Severe Weather Disrupts Mumbai Amidst Red Alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast predicting severe thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rainfall across multiple districts in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Palghar, and Satara. This follows the release of a severe weather warning on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kilometers per hour are anticipated to affect isolated areas within the coming hours, according to the bulletin from the IMD.

Due to the severe weather conditions, the IMD has placed the region under a red alert, advising caution for residents when going outdoors. As a result, significant disruptions have occurred at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where flights have been severely affected. An Indigo flight was notably redirected to Ahmedabad after aborting its landing due to wind shear. As of 9:56 PM, 14 flights bound for Mumbai have been diverted, with ongoing adverse weather expected to cause further disruptions. “Due to bad weather (heavy rain) in Mumbai (BOM), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected,” said SpiceJet in a statement, advising passengers to check their flight status on the airline’s website.

The torrential rains have also seriously impacted Mumbai’s suburban train system. Waterlogging at Kurla, Bhandup, and Vikhroli has caused delays of up to an hour on the Central Railway line. Announcements made at stations have informed commuters that trains will not be stopping at Nahur, Kanjurmarg, and Vidyavihar stations, further adding to the transport disruptions. Meanwhile, the western line has seen train cancellations, leading to overcrowding at Churchgate and other stations, as the city’s transport network struggles under the relentless weather conditions.

In response to IMD’s forecast, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation announced the closure of schools and colleges in Mumbai on Thursday. In a statement posted on X, the BMC urged residents to “step out of homes only if required,” highlighting the severity of the situation.

IMD has warned that rainfall and thunderstorm activity will likely increase across parts of Maharashtra in the upcoming days. A trough from lower to mid-levels is intensifying over the North Konkan region, with widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall expected across Mumbai, Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada over the next two to three days. The rainfall is predicted to measure between 64.5 mm and 204.4 mm, with some areas possibly experiencing rainfall exceeding 204.5 mm. The current weather pattern involves a trough and a shear zone extending from North Konkan to South Bangladesh, which interacts with a cyclonic circulation over South Chhattisgarh, compounding the weather’s intensity.