Pre-monsoon showers have arrived in Mumbai and Pune, offering respite from the sweltering heat but also causing waterlogging and power outages in some areas. Despite the inconvenience, some residents have found joy in the situation, like a man in Pune who was captured on video surfing through the rainwater-filled streets. The video has gone viral, with netizens commenting on the man’s surfing skills and the humorous nature of the situation.
On Wednesday morning, the first pre-monsoon showers arrived in parts of Mumbai, providing some relief from the oppressive heat and humidity. Dadar, Kandivali, Magathane, Oshiwara, Wadala, and Ghatkopar received rainfall ranging from 4 mm to 26 mm between 7 am and 8 am. Light rain was also reported in central and south Mumbai. Skymet had earlier predicted that the monsoon would advance over the Konkan region and make a timely onset in Mumbai, with pre-monsoon showers of light to moderate intensity expected over the next 3-4 days. Despite the rain, road traffic and train services were operating normally. The Mumbai monsoon season typically begins in the second week of June. In May, the city experienced unseasonal rain accompanied by strong winds, causing the collapse of a hoarding in Ghatkopar and resulting in fatalities.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the monsoon is expected to arrive in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, by June 13 or 14. The rainfall in the state is anticipated to commence in the first week of June. According to CS Patil, a meteorologist at IMD Bengaluru, the monsoon has already progressed over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and is likely to reach the Kerala coast around June 1-2. Subsequently, it is projected to reach the Karnataka coast by June 6 or 7. It is important to note that the projected timeline could be affected by the formation of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, potentially leading to a cyclone. Such cyclonic activity could delay the monsoon’s onset over the Karnataka coast by several days.
