This could allay fears of a water cut in the city; it has rained better in catchment areas of lakes compared to last year, but lake levels are still not high enough to predict no water cut
Mumbaikars can now expect some respite after the past month went by without rain, as the India Meteorolog-ical Department (IMD) has predicted moderate showers within the next few days. This might allay fears of a dry August and a subsequent water cut in the city.
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Over 10,000 people at Satra Park, Shimpoli Road, Borivli (West), ran in a marathon organised by a fitness centre, despite the rain on Sunday. Pic/Sameer Markande
After heavy rains on June 19, the rain gods had shied away from the city. Explaining the reason for the delay in monsoon, V K Rajeev, IMD director for Western region said, “The weather systems were not in place for rainfall. There are several factors which together amount to rainfall, such as low pressure.
Only when all the weather systems fall in place it can rain. This led to the dry spell in the past month. But now we are hopeful for better rainfall within the next few days.” It rained about 5 mm in the city on Sunday, with day-time temperatures reaching up to 31.4 degrees and night temperatures reaching 26.8 degrees.
The IMD has forecast occasional spells of rains with thunder showers for the next 48 hours. The predicted temperatures are 31 degrees (maximum) and 26 degrees (minimum). With a predicted wind speed of 45 kmph, the IMD has issued a warning for fishermen not to go out into the sea.
The rainfall has been sporadic in the catchment areas of lakes. Although it has rained better in catchment areas of lakes compared to last year, the lake levels are still not high enough to predict no water cut. “Generally 60 to 80 per cent of the entire monsoon is received in July and August, since they are the two most crucial months.
This year, although July was dry, June made up for it, with record rainfall on June 19. As for the lake levels, they are better compared to last year. Upper Vaitarna was below lowest drawable levels last year too. Only Modak Sagar is below expected levels, but that has been made up for by Middle Vaitarna.
So things are not looking bad right now as compared to last year,” said Ashok Tawadia, hydraulic engineer of the BMC. When asked about water cuts, Tawadia said, “A review meeting will be held by the end of this month where we will decide the future strategy.”
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