A series of atmospheric developments suggest that Mumbai and adjoining regions may witness an early onset of the southwest monsoons this year, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and independent weather experts.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and the Konkan coast, forecasting heavy rain and thunderstorms over the next four days. Several other districts, including Raigad, Nashik, Pune, Satara, and Kolhapur are under an orange alert, signalling the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated areas. This burst of pre-monsoon showers has made for an uncharacteristically wet May in Mumbai, typically known for heat waves and high humidity. Since early May, the city has recorded multiple rounds of rain, with IMD’s Colaba observatory logging 85.2 mm and the Santacruz station registering 47.4 mm of rainfall, making it the wettest May since 2021. “This May has been much cooler and wetter than normal,” said Climatologist Rajesh Kapadia from Vagaries of the Weather.