Mumbai received its first bout of monsoon rain today, but it came with a surprising twist – a massive dust storm. The sudden shift in weather caught the city off guard, causing traffic chaos and prompting commuters to seek shelter.
#DustStorm over Lower Parel. #MumbaiRains pic.twitter.com/eVBz2JUsrP
— Mumbai Weather (@IndiaWeatherMan) May 13, 2024
Around 3 pm, the sky darkened as a huge dust storm swept through the city. Strong winds and rain lashed areas like Ghatkopar, Bandra Kurla, and Dharavi, bringing traffic to a standstill.
Weather Alerts Issued
The weather department issued an update, warning of thunderstorms with lightning and moderate to heavy rain expected in isolated parts of Palghar and Thane districts over the next few hours. Wind gusts reaching 50-60 km/hr are also forecast.
The strong winds caused trees to topple in several locations. In neighboring Navi Mumbai, a tree fell on a busy road in Aroli Sector 5. Thankfully, there were no injuries, but traffic flow was disrupted as commuters moved their vehicles to safety and awaited the winds to subside.
📌Mod to intense thunderstorms over Red marked areas; District of Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Nagar & eastern suburbs of Mumbai during next 2 hrs. Mulund, Tiltwala, Kalyaan
— K S Hosalikar (@Hosalikar_KS) May 13, 2024
📌Mod to severe thunderstorms over yellow areas covering South ghat areas of Pune, Satara next 2,3 hrs
Watch pl pic.twitter.com/WF7qd7LWsE
This dramatic weather event serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the monsoon season in Mumbai. While the rains bring relief from the scorching heat, they can also be accompanied by strong winds and sudden dust storms.
