Mumbai rains: Yellow Alert! IMD issues thunderstorm, rainfall warnings till May 21; key details here

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a yellow alert warning for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, and several other parts of Maharashtra, indicating the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, moderate rainfall, and gusty winds from May 17 to May 21, 2025.

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According to IMD bulletin, Mumbai will remain under a yellow alert on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, while neighbouring districts such as Thane and Raigad will stay under warning from Sunday through Wednesday. Hence, today, parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai and Thane, are expected to witness moderate rainfall.

The alert extends beyond the Konkan region. For the next four days, the rest of Maharashtra will also be placed under a yellow warning, signalling the likelihood of unsettled weather across the state.

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Speaking to ANI on Friday, IMD scientist Akhil Srivastava pointed out that southern India, especially the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, will experience persistent rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds for the next five days.

Similar weather conditions are expected to prevail over Central India.

Earlier on Saturday, rain lashed several parts of Mumbai as the city has been experiencing pre-monsoon showers over the past few days.

Monsoon arrival

The southwest monsoon is expected to arrive in Kerala in the next four to five days, earlier than the usual date of June 1, the IMD said on Tuesday. It was earlier forecasted that the monsoon would onset over Kerala by May 27, which will be the earliest arrival on the Indian mainland since 2009, when it began on May 23, as per IMD data.

In 2025, IMD said the southwest monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall over the country as a whole during 2025 is most likely to be above normal (greater than 104 per cent of the Long Period Average).

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The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala. It is an important indicator characterising the transition from the hot and dry to the rainy season.

The southwest monsoon typically sets in over Kerala on June 1, with a standard deviation of about 7 days.

(With inputs from agencies)