© Satyabrata Tripathy /HT
Heavy traffic on Mumbai’s Western Express Highway because of rain on Tuesday morning.
Owing to
Cyclone Ockhi, the city
recorded the highest-ever December rainfall on Tuesday, in just 12 hours. Rainfall during 8.30am-8.30pm at the IMD's Santacruz observatory was
36mm, which beat the previous record of 31.4mm, recorded on December 12, 1967.
As Ockhi came close to the city on Tuesday, it brought in a day full of rains and gusty winds, leading to a steep drop in temperatures. The maximum temperatures recorded at both the Santacruz and Colaba observatories were 10 degrees lower than on Monday. As a result, at several places, noon-time unusually was much cooler than dawn. Also, there was barely a two-degree difference between maximum and minimum temperatures at most places.
Ockhi's threat had prompted the government to keep schools shut, which lead to an easing of school-time traffic. For adults, it was business as usual, barring minor absenteeism, though organizations had issued advisories to employees. While rainfall was moderate, rumour mongers were busy creating panic with fake news on the sea link and various roads, prompting the BMC to tweet: "Please don't create panic." In fact, no transport disruption was reported from anywhere in the city. The trains ran, as did the buses and cars.
Comment: See also: 'Out of control' Southern California wildfire explodes as growing blazes force 27,000 to flee
Nearly 200,000 people have been told to evacuate the California wildfires. The Thomas fire has burned at least 90,000 acres. The Creek fire has burned at least 12,600 acres and the Rye fire destroyed at least 7,000 acres. The Skirball fire covered 475 acres as of Wednesday evening. So far the Thomas fire has destroyed at least 150 structures and the Creek fire has destroyed at least 30 structures.
More than 1,800 firefighters have battled the erratic Thomas fire, which is just 5% contained, according to the latest update by Cal Fire. The Creek fire is also 5% contained and the Skirball fire is 10% contained. Little Mountain Fire is now 100% contained.
This youtube video shows drivers heading down the 405 freeway, where they met giant flames from the several fires burning in Southern California.
Here's a downright scary look at what California drivers were faced with driving to work:
Keep in mind that right now is the 'wet season' in California, which is why December wildfires are so rare, yet no rain has arrived.