Mumbai Faces Thunderstorms and Downpours as Air Quality Improves

As of October 23, 2025, Mumbai and its neighboring districts of Thane and Palghar are bracing for a spell of intermittent moderate rain and thunderstorms that is expected to last until at least October 24. This respite from the deteriorating air quality comes after the city experienced heavy showers a day after Diwali festivities on October 20.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert in the region, warning of the possibility of gusty winds, moderate rainfall, and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning. The unseasonal rain is attributed to easterly winds troughing across Maharashtra, leading to the incursion of moisture and the development of thunderstorms during the evenings.

Despite the rain, temperatures have remained above normal, with the suburban Santacruz observatory recording a maximum of 36 degrees Celsius on October 19. The showers, however, have helped improve the city's air quality, which had deteriorated to "poor" levels in the aftermath of Diwali celebrations.

According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), October 2025 has emerged as Mumbai's most polluted month so far this year, with several monitoring stations recording their highest daily average PM2.5 and PM10 levels during this period. The rain has helped settle down pollutants suspended in the atmosphere, and the city is likely to experience improved air quality until the end of the week.