MUMBAI, July 5: After a week-long lull which saw some intermittent showers, heavy rains lashed the metropolis today. Weather experts called it a normal monsoon pattern.

Pointing out that the month of July normally sees maximum rainfall, Indian Meteorological Department deputy director-general Shravan Kumar explained, ``A trough of low pressure has been formed off the Mumbai coast stretching upto Kerala.''

Weather bureau director B Shyamala attributed the earlier light showers to ``intra-seasonal variabilities which is characteristic of every monsoon. That is how we see heavy rains at certain times and few showers at another.'' Heavy rains have been forecast for the next 24 hours and the weather bureau has issued warnings to the railways, municipality, fishermen.

Railway Control reported just one major water-logging incident on the tracks at Sion station on the Central line. Trains on this stretch were running some 15-20 minutes late while the Western and Harbour lines were normal, a control spokesperson informed.

No major breakdown were reported by the fire-brigade except for one at Masjid Bunder this morning. A transport godown at Baroda Estate was gutted.