New Delhi: The southwest monsoons’ arrival in Maharashtra on Sunday marked a significant meteorological event: the earliest onset in 35 years. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this unprecedented early arrival surpasses the previous record set in May 1990. The IMD’s announcement highlighted the unexpected nature of this event, noting the usual arrival period is around the 7th of June for Maharashtra and the 11th for Mumbai.
The early monsoon has already brought significant impacts. Heavy pre-monsoon rains have saturated Mumbai and the Konkan region, causing substantial waterlogging and severely impacting suburban train services. Visuals from across the state depict waterlogged roads, traffic congestion, and even flooding in some residential areas. The IMD issued warnings in response to the rapidly developing situation.
The IMD forecast predicts the monsoons will advance to Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra within the next three days. While the early onset is considered unusual, experts note that it is not entirely unprecedented. The intensity and widespread nature of the early rains have nonetheless caught many residents unprepared, leading to significant disruption and inconvenience.
The situation underscores the need for improved preparedness measures for extreme weather events. Further updates and assessments of the monsoon’s progress and impact will be issued by the IMD in the coming days.
