Just over two weeks ago, the city witnessed heavy rainfall, following which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officially declared the early onset of the monsoon in Maharashtra, including Mumbai. However, for the last week, the city has been experiencing a dry spell. Despite the initial downpour and widespread alerts, the rain has all but vanished, leaving residents puzzled and coping with constant fluctuations in humidity levels.

According to the IMD, Mumbai’s forecast for Wednesday predicted “light to moderate rain/thundershowers”, but there was no sign of rain throughout the day. This absence of rain has caused humidity levels to fluctuate once again. As per IMD data, humidity levels in early May had touched 90 per cent, which dropped to around 60 per cent after the heavy rains that lashed the city on May 26. With no rain for the past week, humidity levels have once again climbed to approximately 75-80 per cent.

This abrupt pause in rainfall and the frequent fluctuations in humidity, health experts say, are not just meteorological anomalies but also public health concerns. While cold, cough, flu, and vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria are common during the monsoon, doctors are now reporting a spike in allergies and other infections linked to these changes.