A depression over the east central Arabian Sea is set to influence weather conditions across Maharashtra over the next few days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in the state until October 30.
According to IMD, the system, which formed on Saturday, has been moving towards the southwest direction at a speed of about 13 kilometre per hour (kmph) over the past six hours. As of 8.30 am on Sunday, it was centred near latitude 16.0 degrees N and longitude 66.5 degrees E — around 760 km west-southwest of Mumbai, 790 km west of Panjim (Goa), 870 km northwest of Aminidivi (Lakshadweep), and 970 km west-northwest of Mangaluru (Karnataka).
The weather bureau said the depression is likely to continue moving towards the southwest direction initially and then to the south-southwest across the east central Arabian Sea over the next 24 hours.
Under its influence, Konkan and Madhya Maharashtra are expected to receive fairly widespread to widespread moderate rainfall with isolated heavy spells until October 30. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms is also likely in parts of Marathwada until October 29.
Forecast for Mumbai
Even though IMD has predicted heavy rainfall in parts of Maharashtra, including districts of Raigad and Ratnagiri, until October 30, Mumbai is expected to receive moderate rainfall on Monday, and light showers on Tuesday and Wednesday.
IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai until Monday, indicating moderate rainfall with gusty winds and thunderstorms. For the rest of the week, the city is expected to receive light rainfall, with a green alert in place.
The southwest monsoon withdrew from Mumbai on October 10, 2025, marking its earliest withdrawal from the city since 2018, when it had withdrawn on October 6.
This year, Mumbai recorded an early onset of the monsoon season — the first in 75 years — on May 26.
While typically, the monsoon withdraws from Mumbai in the second or third week of October, IMD had earlier indicated a delayed withdrawal this year due to western disturbances. IMD declares the withdrawal of the monsoon when satellite imagery shows a lack of moisture and there is dryness for up to five days.
A senior IMD official told mid-day.com, “The rainfall expected this week does not have a connection with the southwest monsoon. It is due to a depression over the east central Arabian Sea that moved nearly towards southwest at a speed of 13 kmph in the past six hours. We can say this is not an unusual phenomenon given the current atmospheric circumstances.”
Meanwhile, strong surface winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph are likely over the region during this period. IMD has cautioned fishermen along the Maharashtra-Goa coast against venturing into the sea, warning of squally weather conditions with wind speeds of 35-45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, till October 30.
“Wind speeds around the system’s centre could reach 45-55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph, over the east central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea till October 27,” an IMD press release stated.
Rough to very rough sea conditions are expected in these areas, while moderate to rough seas are likely along the Maharashtra-Goa and Gujarat coasts on October 26 and 27.
Local Cautionary Signal III (LC-III) has been hoisted at all ports from Dahanu to Shrivardhan along the north Maharashtra coast, and from Bankot to Mormugao along the south Maharashtra-Goa coast.
The weather bureau has warned of possible impacts including cloud-to-ground lightning, fallen trees, localised power outages, crop damage due to unseasonal rain, and minor flooding in low-lying areas. It has appealed to residents to remain indoors during thunderstorms, avoid open spaces, unplug electrical appliances, and stay away from water bodies.
For detailed district-wise forecasts, citizens can check IMD’s Mumbai regional website: mausam.imd.gov.in/mumbai/mcdata/district.pdf or mausam.imd.gov.in and imdnagpur.gov.in for updates.
