This October rain makes record

Mumbai has recorded the third-highest rainfall in the month of October in the last 10 years in the first seven days of this month, thanks to the delayed withdrawal of monsoon.

The Santa Cruz weather station has registered 124.8mm of rainfall between October 1 and 7, higher than the monthly average of 55.8mm. The Colaba weather station has also recorded 92.2 mm of rainfall during the same period.

Earlier, in 2006 and 2009, the city had received 238.6mm and 223.3mm rainfall, which is highest and second highest in the month of October in the last 10 years respectively. The all-time record of highest rainfall in the city in the month of October was in 1960 with 344mm rainfall.

On Sunday, at 8.30am, the Colaba and Santa Cruz weather station recorded 31.7mm and 32mm rainfall for last 24 hours. However, the city witnessed a dry spell on Sunday as both the weather stations registered no rainfall between 8.30am and 5.30pm.
In the evening, rains lashed the city and suburbs once again, with the Colaba and Santa Cruz  stations recording 8.8mm and 31mm rainfall between 6pm and 8.30pm.

Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the rainfall activity to the weather conditions. “We are expecting rainfall with thunder and lightning to continue for the next three to four days,” said VK Rajeev, director, IMD adding that it is normal during the withdrawal of monsoon.

The IMD has predicted a few spells of shower in parts of the city and suburbs in next 24 hours.