Maharashtra Weather: Mumbai On Yellow Alert; 15 Districts To Get Heavy Rains Today

Yellow alert has been issued for Mumbai and several districts in Maharashtra, with the India Meteorological Department warning of heavy rain over the weekend. Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri are among the coastal districts likely to see stronger showers as the monsoon stays active across the state.

The alert comes after Mumbai saw a sharp change in weather this week. Heavy rain on the first day of the monsoon caused waterlogging and travel disruption across parts of the city. The intensity then dropped between Wednesday and Friday, leaving many areas with only scattered showers and a noticeable rise in temperature.

Yellow alert for Mumbai and 14 other districts

According to the weather department’s latest update, a yellow alert has been issued for 15 districts in Maharashtra. Heavy rain is likely in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri on Saturday. Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli and Solapur have also been placed under a yellow alert, along with parts of Marathwada and North Maharashtra.

In Vidarbha, the warning is different in nature. Nagpur, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Wardha and Yavatmal may witness thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds. Such conditions can develop quickly during active monsoon phases, especially when moisture levels rise after a break in rainfall.

For Mumbai, the department has forecast light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning on June 27 and June 28. The yellow alert means residents should stay updated on local advisories, especially in low-lying neighbourhoods and areas known for waterlogging during intense spells.

The return of rain will be watched closely by commuters, civic officials and farmers. While the first heavy spell brought relief from heat and humidity, it also flooded roads and subways in several parts of Mumbai. Traffic movement slowed in many areas as civic teams restricted access to inundated stretches.

Mumbai temperature rises as rain weakens

Mumbai recorded only scattered rain on Friday, allowing temperatures to climb again. The maximum temperature was 31.6°C at Colaba and 33.6°C at Santacruz. A day earlier, Colaba had recorded 28.8°C, while Santacruz saw a maximum of 32.2°C.

The rise was felt more strongly because the city had just experienced widespread monsoon rain. In Mumbai, even a short weakening of showers can quickly bring back humid and uncomfortable conditions. Cloud cover, wind direction and the timing of rainfall all influence how warm the city feels during this period.

The rain earlier this week had marked the long-awaited onset of the southwest monsoon over Mumbai. Its arrival was followed by heavy downpours, waterlogging and delays for office-goers. The sudden slowdown after that led to questions among residents about whether the monsoon had weakened soon after setting in.

Weather officials, however, have indicated that rainfall intensity is likely to increase again. For Mumbai, this means the weekend could bring more regular showers, though rainfall may vary sharply between neighbourhoods. Western suburbs, island city areas and eastern suburbs often receive uneven rainfall during thunderstorm-linked spells.

Pune sees warmer conditions after brief rain

Pune also saw a change in weather after the southwest monsoon reached the city on Monday. Central areas and suburbs received light to moderate rain for two days, while the ghat sections recorded heavier showers. That raised hopes that the delayed June rain phase had finally started properly.

Rainfall then reduced across the district. No rain was recorded in the city on Thursday afternoon and through Friday, pushing temperatures higher. Pune recorded a maximum temperature of 34.3°C on Friday, around four degrees above normal. The minimum temperature stood at 22.9°C.

The ghat regions continued to receive intermittent showers, but the overall intensity across the district declined. This matters for both city residents and rural areas. In agricultural belts, farmers are waiting for more consistent rain before full-scale sowing can pick up, especially in areas dependent on timely monsoon rainfall.

In some places, rice seedlings are being planted with water pumped from rivers, as natural rainfall has not yet been sufficient. Farmers usually prefer sustained soil moisture before transplanting paddy, because uneven rain can increase costs and raise the risk of crop stress during the early growth stage.

Why the monsoon timing matters this year

Mumbai’s monsoon arrival this year has been among the more delayed on record. The June 24 onset is tied as the third-most delayed monsoon arrival for the city since 1951. The latest onset dates were June 25 in 1959, 2019 and 2022. June 24 was also recorded in 1974.

The delay is important because Mumbai normally depends on June rainfall to reduce heat, recharge lakes and support the wider monsoon cycle across western Maharashtra. A late start does not automatically decide the full season’s performance, but it can affect early water availability and agricultural planning.

Last year, Mumbai saw an unusually wet May after an early monsoon onset. The Colaba observatory recorded 509 mm of rain, while Santacruz recorded 395 mm. This year’s delayed arrival has created a very different start, with the city moving from heat to heavy rain, then briefly back to humid conditions.

For now, residents across alert districts should expect changing weather through the weekend. Heavy rain may not be continuous everywhere, but localised intense spells can still disrupt travel and cause waterlogging. The next two days will be important in showing whether the monsoon regains steady momentum across Mumbai and adjoining districts.