Mumbai’s heavy rain breaks 107-year record

Indian city Mumbai on Monday recorded its highest rainfall in 107 years on just the first day of monsoon.

As per the Indian Meteorological Department, with the rains in Mumbai, monsoon has also arrived in the city 16 days earlier than usual.

“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,” read an official statement issued by the IMD.

In addition to the heavy rain and waterlogging challenges, Mumbai’s recent rainfall has broken a record set over a century ago, in 1918.

According to the Indian Express, data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) shows that several parts of South Mumbai received more than 200 mm of rain between midnight and 11 a.m. on Monday.

At the Colaba observatory, Mumbai recorded its highest rainfall of 295 mm, surpassing the previous record of 279.4 mm set in May 1918.

A PTI report citing Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data revealed rainfall amounts between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Monday as follows: Colaba – 105.2 mm, 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.

This heavy rainfall also marks Mumbai’s earliest monsoon onset in 75 years. The average date for the monsoon’s arrival in Mumbai is June 11, but in 2024, the southwest monsoon began on June 6.

“Southwest monsoon made its onset over Mumbai on May 26. This is the earliest onset in the last 75 years,” said India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Sushma Nair, speaking to PTI.

With the red alert in place, the IMD has officially declared the start of the southwest monsoon nearly 16 days earlier than usual.