Mumbai breaks 107-year-old record for highest rainfall in May

The southwest monsoon made its onset over Mumbai on Monday (May 26), more than a fortnight before its normal date, with IMD officials saying it is the earliest arrival of rains in the country's financial capital in 75 years.

Also read: Heavy rains wreak havoc in Kerala, Karnataka

Also, with heavy rains lashing Mumbai, the city has broken a 107-year-old record for the highest rains in the month of May.

According to reports, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed the Colaba observatory saw the highest rainfall at 295 mm, all-time record for May. This broke the previous record of 279.4 mm reported in May 1918.

'Very heavy rain' in Mumbai

In the last 24 hours till 8:30 am on Monday, Colaba observatory recorded 135.4 mm of rainfall. It was categorised as “very heavy rain” (115.6 mm–204.4 mm), as per IMD data.

Also read: Heavy rain, strong winds continue to lash Kerala; IMD forecasts storms

“The Southwest Monsoon has advanced to Mumbai today, 26th May 2025, against the normal date of advancement, 11th June. Thus, the monsoon has arrived in Mumbai 16 days earlier than usual. This marks the earliest monsoon advancement over Mumbai during the period 2001–2025,” IMD said.

Monsoon's arrival

“This is the earliest onset in the last 75 years,” IMD scientist Sushma Nair said.

The normal date for monsoon's arrival in Mumbai is June 11.

Nair said the southwest monsoon arrived in Mumbai on May 29 in 1956. It arrived on the same date in 1962 and 1971.

Between 8.30 am and 11.30 am, Colaba received 105.2 millimetres of rainfall, Santacruz (55 mm), Bandra (68.5 mm), Juhu Airport (63.5 mm), Chembur (38.5 mm), Vikhroli (37.5 mm), Mahalaxmi (33.5 mm) and Sion (53.5 mm), the IMD said.

Monsoon also arrived in Pune during the day, the IMD added.

(With agency inputs)