Mumbai, 22 June (HS): The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

(BMC), citing the India Meteorological Department (IMD), issued an Orange alert

for Mumbai on Monday, forecasting thunderstorms with lightning, moderate to

intense spells of rainfall, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph at

isolated locations for the next three hours. According to the IMD's nowcast

warning, which was relayed by the BMC, weather conditions are predicted to

continue active in portions of Mumbai, with people encouraged to take essential

measures during thunderstorms and heavy rain.

On Monday morning, some portions of Mumbai, notably Bandra East, had

pre-monsoon rains followed by lightning and thunderstorms, providing relief

from the prevailing heat but creating waterlogging and traffic problems in

certain regions.

Meanwhile, the monsoon is likely to arrive in Mumbai late

tonight or tomorrow (Tuesday). The IMD will declare the monsoon only when all

of the conditions for its commencement are satisfied. According to the IMD's

most recent meteorological advisory, conditions are favorable for the southwest

monsoon to continue its progress into Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha,

Jharkhand, and Bihar, as well as parts of Chhattisgarh, around June 23. The

meteorological authority predicts that very heavy to extremely heavy rains will

continue throughout northeast India until June 25 and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal

and Sikkim until June 22. The IMD further cautioned that heat wave to severe

heat wave conditions are expected to persist in Vidarbha, East Madhya Pradesh

and East Uttar Pradesh for the next four to five days, and would be under

focus. Heat waves are also forecast in Chhattisgarh for the next three days,

Telangana for the following two, and Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada.

According to the IMD prediction, there will be isolated to scattered rainfall

across Konkan and Goa on June 21-22, with rainfall activity predicted to

increase to very extensive to widespread rainfall over the region between June

23 and June 27. The meteorological agency also projected isolated thunderstorms

with lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting up to

60 kmph, across Konkan, Goa, and Marathwada from June 22-25, as well as

isolated heavy rains over Konkan and Goa from June 22-27.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi