Merely three days into November, the city’s Santacruz observatory has already broken a six-year record to become the wettest November ever recorded since 2019.Owing to light to moderate — albeit incessant —rainfall over the weekend, data procured from the weather bureau showed that between November 1 and November 3 morning, the Santacruz observatory clocked in 35.6 mm rainfall. Records accessed by The Indian Express reveal that in only three days, the city has already surpassed the total quantum of rain recorded in November over the past six years to become the wettest November since 2019.Before 2025, the city had registered the wettest November month in 2019 when the Santacruz observatory clocked in 109.3 mm rain, making it Mumbai’s wettest November on record.As against the 35.6 mm rainfall recorded in Mumbai in November so far this year, the Santacruz observatory had recorded 0 mm rain in November 2024, only 7.6 mm rain in November 2023, 0 mm rain in November 2022, 30.1 mm rain in November 2021 and 0 mm rain in November 2020.Making for an unusual November, the unseasonal showers also led to a significant drop in temperatures on Sunday (November 2), which went on to become Mumbai’s coldest November day in at least the past 11 years.What has led to the unseasonal showers this November?In what has led to monsoon-like conditions despite the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, Mumbai has been experiencing continuous spells of rainfall since Diwali festivities, starting October 22. Weather experts had attributed the influx of unseasonal showers in October to a deep depression as well as a trough running along the upper air cyclonic circulation system associated with the depression.However, IMD scientists told The Indian Express that while the depression has now weakened, a fresh system in the Arabian Sea has led to further revival of showers.Story continues below this ad“At present, there is a low-pressure area in the North East Arabian Sea. Furthermore, there is also a trough running along the coast, which is typically associated with the LPA. Together, these systems are bringing in a lot of moisture and rainfall along the North Konkan coast, including Mumbai district,” said Nitha Sasidharan, a scientist from IMD Mumbai.Amid at least five three-hour ‘yellow’ nowcast warnings issued between 7.00 am and 7.00 pm on Sunday, the Santacruz observatory recorded 27.4 mm of rain between Sunday and Monday morning, while the Colaba observatory recorded 33.6 mm of rainfall during the same period.How have the showers impacted the region?In some respite for citizens, the showers have spurred a dip in the scorching heat as well as the burgeoning AQI levels.On Sunday, for instance, the maximum temperatures in Santacruz touched 29 degrees, which is 5.7 degrees below the normal for the month, while the Colaba observatory logged 27 degrees on the mercury scales, which is 7.3 degrees below the normal. This, according to the records, was the city’s lowest daytime (maximum) temperatures since at least 2014.Story continues below this adAlso in Explained | The history and evolution of monsoon forecasting in IndiaMeanwhile, the overall air quality index on Monday touched 49, which is categorised as ‘good’, while all the monitoring stations across the city logged AQI between the 0-100 category, which has minimal adverse impact on health. It marks a significant improvement from the previous month when, at its worst, the AQI had deteriorated to 212 on October 21, which is categorised as poor.However, the rainfall has also caused widespread damage to crops and severely hit farmers across several regions of Maharashtra. While swathes of maize, onion and paddy fields have been destroyed in talukas of Nashik, in other regions like Latur, newly sown kharif and newly sown rabi crops have been damaged.For how long will the unseasonal showers continue this month?The wet start to the month is indicative of more showers on the cards for the region. While no warnings have been sounded, the IMD — in its forecast bulletin — has indicated that light to moderate showers will continue in Mumbai as well as Thane, Palghar and Raigad until at least November 6. In the Ratnagiri district of the Konkan region, a fresh yellow alert has also been issued owing to the possibility of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds with rain, between Wednesday and Thursday.However, in Mumbai, meteorologists stated that the rain activity is likely to cease after November 7, with forecasts of predominantly clear skies and dry weather.