IMD forecasts light rain in Mumbai in next 48 hours due to low pressure system in Arabian Sea

Mumbai residents were in for a surprise on Thursday as the city received unexpected showers in the evening in some parts of the city, owing to low pressure in the Arabian Sea.

The sky was clouded for most of the day with temperatures dropping below 30 degrees Celsius, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). It also forecast light rain and drizzle  to occur in the next 48 hours with minimum temperature likely to dip to 23 degrees Celsius.

Speaking to Firstpost, IMD scientist in Mumbai, Ajay Kumar said that while rains at this time of the year is not normal, it is not unusual either. “Rains in March is not normal but it does take place sometimes, it is not abnormal. In 2015 and 2016, rainfall hit the city during March,” he said adding that the skies in Mumbai will clear by Saturday.

IMD attributed a low pressure depression in the Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep and surrounding areas as the reason behind the showers. Kumar said that since the depression is weakening, there is no immediate warning for fishermen at sea. “The depression is positioned very far from Mumbai and is in its weakening stage. It won’t affect fishermen close to the coast here,” he said.

The IMD had earlier predicted light rain across Maharashtra, South Konkan, including the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions over the next three days. “We are expecting isolated rainfall, and thunderstorms in the next 24 hours in south Konkan, Madhya Maharshtra, Marathawada and Vidharba too,” Mumbai Mirror  quoted KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, IMD as saying.

According to  Skymet Weather , the low pressure system has been moving in north-northwest direction parallel to the coast, albeit at a fair distance from the coast itself.