Above-average monsoon season: over 300 mm of rain in 24 hours floods Mumbai, India

A strong monsoon brought heavy rainfall to Mumbai, India this week flooding the city on Friday, June 19, 2015. City roads and rail service have been interrupted, flights have been delayed, schools closed and even some power plants have been shut down by Mumbai electricity board. Due to high tide, Mumbai was asked to stay home late June 19.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reports the monsoon rainfall has so far been above the seasonal average and is expected to remain so throughout June.

It is expected the rainfall will somewhat weaken in July, the peak month for the monsoon.

“A low-pressure system has formed in the Bay of Bengal which will bring more rainfall in some areas. Good rainfall can be expected at least for the next five days and the monsoon is likely to reach north India by the end of June,” said D.S. Pai, head of the long-range forecasting division at IMD.

As reported by FloodList, over 150 mm (5.9 inches) of rain was recorded across the Mumbai city area in 24 hours from June 18 to 19. According to the WMO, 310 mm (12.2 inches) of rainfall fell in Santacruz, Mumbai.

147 mm (5.7 inches) was recorded in Ratnagiri, 96 mm (3.7 inches) in Cochin, 52.8 mm (2.0 inches) in Mangalore while Goa received 108 mm (4.2 inches) of rain over the same period.

Some suburbs recorded 283.4 mm (11.15 inches) of rain and 208.8 mm (8.2 inches) was recorded in south Mumbai, according to IMD.

A 4.47-meter (14.7-feet) tide was expected in Mumbai on Friday, June 19. On June 12, last year, the streets of Mumbai were flooded with 30 to 90 cm (1 to 3 feet) of high tide waters.

70% of India's annual rainfall is received from June to September monsoon season. A second consecutive year of deficient rainfall is a major source of concern for policymakers, farmers and companies dependent on the rural economy.

Most regions of the country, apart from north-west India so far received above average rainfall. North India is expecting plentiful rainfall between June 26 and 30, according to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology. According to IMD the monsoon rainfall is expected to weaken during July.

The warning for heavy rainfall and strong winds in Mumbai was issued for the next 24 hours.

Featured image: Mumbai floods on June 19, 2015.