Generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall, thundershowers likely in city today

The India Meteorological Department IMD on Wednesday predicted predicted moderate spells of rain in Mumbai and its suburbsFor Wednesday the IMD has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai predicting moderate rainfall and thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty windsGenerally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall and thundershowers likely towards evening and night in city and suburbs today the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC said on WednesdayA high tide of about 429 metres is expected to hit Mumbai at 1019 am today Another high tide of about 408 metres is expected to hit Mumbai at 1037 pm stated Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC The civic body also said that a low tide of about 120 metres is expected at 427 pm todayThe island city eastern and western suburbs received an average rainfall of 565 mm 558 mm and 904 mm respectively in 24 hours ending at 8 am the civic bodys data showedMeanwhile after subdued rainfall resulted in India experiencing the driest August since 1901 the Southwest Monsoon is expected to revive over the weekend bringing rain to central and southern parts of the country the India Meteorological Department IMD said on August 31Addressing a press conference virtually India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said September was likely to witness normal rainfall in the range of 91109 per cent of the long period average of 1679 mmHowever Mohapatra said even if the rainfall in September was to remain on the higher side the JuneSeptember seasonal rainfall average is expected to be below normal for the seasonAfter excess rainfall in July the southwest monsoon played truant for most of August which witnessed 20 break days from August 617 August 2122 and August 2631 on account of El Nino conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and unfavourable Indian Ocean Dipole conditionsHe said development of El Nino conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean was the most important factor behind the deficient rainfall activity in August However the Indian Ocean Dipole the difference in sea surface temperature of Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal has started turning positive which could counter the El Nino impact Mohapatra saidHe said the Madden Julian Oscillation the eastward moving pulse of cloud and the rainfall in the tropical region too was turning favourable and plays a role in the revival of monsoonWith a 36 per cent deficit India recorded the driest August since 1901 August receives 2549 mm of rainfall accounting for around 30 per cent of the precipitation during the monsoon season The actual rainfall recorded in August was 1627 mmIndia recorded a rainfall deficit of 25 per cent in August 2005 246 per cent in 1965 244 per cent in 1920 241 per cent in 2009 and 24 per cent deficit in 1913 according to the IMD dataMohapatra said abovenormal maximum temperatures were likely to prevail over most parts of the country except over some areas in south peninsular India and some pockets of westcentral India where normal to belownormal maximum temperatures are likelyHe said abovenormal minimum temperatures were likely over most parts of the country except for some areas in extreme north India where normal to belownormal minimum temperatures are likelyWith inputs from PTI