Mumbai witnessed intense rainfall in the first week of May, way ahead of the official onset of the monsoon season. Areas like Nariman Point, Thane, and Navi Mumbai experienced heavy showers on Wednesday evening, May 7, signaling an early arrival of monsoon-like conditions. While the monsoon typically begins in June, this year’s weather patterns suggest it may be arriving sooner than expected.
According to data revealed by the weather bureau, the Santacruz observatory recorded 2 mm rain while the Colaba coastal observatory registered 3 mm rain until 8.30 am on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, civic data stated that some of the heaviest spells were recorded between 4 pm to 5 pm on Wednesday, May 7, with the heaviest rain recorded in eastern suburb’s Bhandup at 24 mm, followed by western suburbs where BKC area recorded 22 mm rain while the island city’s Nariman point and Fort areas recorded 12 mm rain.
Moreover, between 6 pm and 9 pm, western suburbs logged 7.26 mm rain while the eastern suburbs recorded an average of 4.4 mm rainfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) attributes the rising humidity and pre-monsoon showers to moisture brought in by western disturbances.
The IMD has forecast light showers on May 8 and 9, with predominantly cloudy skies anticipated over the coming days.
With this, the city witnessed wettest May in four years, reports stated.
Adding to the unusual weather, Mumbai recorded its warmest night of the year on Tuesday, May 6, with the Santacruz observatory noting a minimum temperature of 28.9°C, which is 2.5°C above average. Daytime temperatures climbed to 33.7°C.
Meanwhile, on Thursday morning, May 8, the Santacruz and Colaba observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 20.6 degree Celsius and 22.2 degrees Celsius.
Residents took to social media to share videos capturing the sudden downpour across the city, with rain observed in key locations such as Marine Lines, the Gateway of India, and other parts of South Mumbai. The showers were accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong gusts of wind, creating the impression that the monsoon had already begun in full swing.
Nature’s fury started again
— archana (@auk_sanejourno) May 7, 2025
Looks like the Rain Gods are roaring ferociously in solidarity with #IndianArmy
Its begun to get dark again with thunderstorms 🌚🌑 #Mumbai braces for#mockdrill2025 pic.twitter.com/rTqZfYvcJK
#Mumbai #rain pic.twitter.com/EWAiqoC9OW
— Aditya (@adip003) May 7, 2025
Just days before the rainfall, Mumbai had been grappling with sweltering heat and dry weather. The unexpected showers brought much-needed respite, cooling the air and lowering temperatures. Despite waterlogging in some low-lying areas and minor traffic disruptions, the overall mood among Mumbaikars remained upbeat as they welcomed the change in weather.
Meteorologists classify these rains as pre-monsoon showers, which serve as a prelude to the full monsoon season. Experts suggest that such conditions not only hint at an early monsoon but also help settle dust and reduce heat, making the environment more bearable ahead of the season's peak.
The rains also affected transportation on Wednesday evening, with disruptions reported on Mumbai's local train network. Services between Churchgate and Marine Lines were temporarily suspended around 4:25 PM due to a piece of cloth becoming entangled in the Overhead Equipment (OHE), posing a safety risk, according to Western Railway authorities. In a separate incident, a tree branch fell on the tracks nearby, further complicating efforts to resume operations promptly.
As per reports, at least 20 incidents of partial tree collapses were reported across the city, alongside two cases of wall crashes.
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