Mumbai Gets Unseasonal Showers As Cyclone Arnab’s Remnants Influence Weather
Mumbai, 30th October 2026: Parts of Mumbai received unseasonal showers on Friday morning as the remnants of Cyclone Arnab influenced weather conditions across Maharashtra, bringing temporary relief from the October heat. However, hazy skies and concerns over air pollution continued in several parts of the city.
Rainfall was reported in areas including Dadar, Matunga and Goregaon, while parts of the northern suburbs, including Borivali and Kandivali, also witnessed showers. According to reports, N M Joshi Marg Municipal School in Lower Parel recorded 9 mm of rainfall, the highest among the cited monitoring locations. Other areas received lighter showers, while several western suburban locations remained dry.
The showers followed the landfall of Cyclone Arnab along the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28th October. Although the system weakened after moving inland, its circulation contributed to cloud cover and isolated rainfall across parts of western India. Weather experts indicated that Mumbai, Thane and Palghar could experience brief spells of rain and thundershowers.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast partly cloudy skies and one or two spells of rain or thundershowers in Mumbai and neighbouring districts. A yellow alert was issued for Raigad and Ratnagiri districts for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds. No comparable district-level warning was issued for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in the earlier forecast.
The change in weather came as Mumbai continued to experience elevated temperatures and deteriorating air quality during October. Haze and reduced visibility were reported in areas including Wadala and parts of South Mumbai, even as showers affected other neighbourhoods.
Air-quality readings varied across monitoring reports on Friday morning. A citywide AQI of 163, categorised as poor, is being estimated, while other sources referencing the CPCB’s SAMEER app, reported an overall reading of 79. Individual monitoring stations also recorded varying pollution levels, highlighting differences between reported readings and monitoring times.
The brief showers may offer some respite from the heat, but they have not uniformly cleared the haze across the city. Meteorologists have also indicated that the rainfall activity is likely to be short-lived, with temperatures expected to remain relatively high over the coming days.
For commuters, the combination of wet roads, overcast skies and pockets of reduced visibility made for a change from the recent hot and humid conditions. Residents have been advised to remain alert to local weather updates, particularly in areas where thunderstorms and lightning are forecast.
