Mumbai sees worst monsoon since 2004

Mumbai received its lowest rain since 2004 this monsoon, with the suburbs recording 1,867.3 mm and the island city 1,433.9 mm.

The south-west monsoon from June 1 to September 30 normally brings 2,049.5 mm rain to Colaba and 2,226.2 mm to Santacruz, while the average from 2004 to 2011 is 2,381.6 and 2,689.7 mm.

The city this time received even lower rain than 2009, a drought year. The June 1 to September 30 rain deficit in the island city is 33 per cent and the suburbs 13 per cent. However, this is a much improved situation from June-end, when the deficit was more than 60 per cent and 40 per cent.

The city received very little rain in June and it remained mostly dry after initial downpour in July. There were a few good spells in August, but a majority of the deficit was removed in September.

"This year, the south-west monsoon was weak because surface level conditions were not favourable for formation of low-pressure systems. We mostly got rain due to upper air systems," said Ajay Kumar, Director, India Meteorological Department.

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