Mumbai Braces for Intense Rainfall as IMD Issues Orange Alert

Mumbai is set to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall today, May 23, 2025, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for the city and neighboring districts, including Thane, Palghar, and Raigad. According to the IMD, a cyclonic circulation forming over the east-central Arabian Sea near the Karnataka coast is driving the severe weather, which is expected to bring thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds of 50-60 kmph through May 24.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that Mumbai recorded over 60 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday morning, with the heaviest downpours occurring after 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The IMD’s Santacruz observatory logged 62 mm of rain, while Colaba recorded 23 mm. The western suburbs saw the highest rainfall, averaging 40 mm, followed by 26 mm in the eastern suburbs and 24 mm in the island city, as per BMC’s automatic weather stations.

High tides are also expected, with the BMC forecasting waves of 3.07 meters at 6:04 a.m. and 3.79 meters at 6:35 p.m. today, alongside low tides of 1.74 meters at 11:54 a.m. and 1.71 meters at 1:25 a.m. on May 22. The IMD has placed Mumbai under a yellow alert through Saturday morning, indicating continued moderate rainfall and potential disruptions. Meanwhile, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, and Nashik face an orange alert today, signaling a higher risk of heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Mumbai has already seen exceptional pre-monsoon rainfall this month, with the city district recording a surplus of over 736% and the suburban district exceeding 677% of the long-period average, according to IMD data. The weather bureau attributes the unseasonal showers to a western disturbance and cyclonic activity, which have brought monsoon-like conditions earlier than usual. Residents are advised to stay updated via official IMD bulletins and follow local advisories to navigate the challenging weather conditions safely.