What to Wear in Mumbai
India · 6 monthly packing guides
Mumbai runs Indian climate extremes — May is pre-monsoon at 34°C / 93°F, June through September is the southwest monsoon (506mm in June, 768mm in July, 472mm in August). The dressing rule: lightweight cotton or rayon, modest cuts, waterproof footwear in monsoon, compact umbrella always. Cover shoulders and knees for temple visits.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 19°C / 66°F in January; average highs reach 34°C / 93°F in May.
Compare Mumbai by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | 19°C / 66°F | 30°C / 86°F | 0 | 11h 05m |
| May packing guide | 27°C / 81°F | 34°C / 93°F | 1 | 13h 15m |
| June packing guide | 27°C / 81°F | 32°C / 90°F | 14 | 13h 25m |
| July packing guide | 26°C / 79°F | 30°C / 86°F | 22 | 13h 20m |
| August packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 30°C / 86°F | 20 | 12h 55m |
| December packing guide | 21°C / 70°F | 32°C / 90°F | 0 | 11h 00m |
Choose your Mumbai packing list
Mumbai in January: 30°C / 86°F afternoons, 19°C / 66°F nights at Colaba, and Sankranti, Gallery Weekend and the marathon between Thursday 14 and Sunday 17 January.
In this capsule: Indigo khadi jacket, band collar; White cotton button-down; Mustard cotton top, elbow sleeves.
Mumbai in May is pre-monsoon extreme heat — 34°C / 93°F peak, 27°C / 81°F nights, only 1 rain day. The hottest month before the southwest monsoon arrives in June.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton or rayon kurta; Cotton or rayon midi dress; Lightweight cotton or rayon trousers.
Mumbai in June is when the southwest monsoon arrives — 506mm of rain, 14 rain days, 32°C / 90°F still hot. The city transforms.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton or rayon kurta; Cotton or rayon midi dress; Lightweight cotton trousers or salwar.
Mumbai in July is peak monsoon — 22 rain days, 768mm of rainfall, the wettest urban month in any major Indian city. Local life adapts.
In this capsule: Quick-dry cotton or rayon kurta; Quick-dry cotton midi dress; Lightweight cotton trousers or salwar.
Mumbai in August is late monsoon — 20 rain days, 472mm rainfall, slightly less than July's peak. Independence Day + Ganpati festival prep.
In this capsule: Quick-dry cotton or rayon kurta; Cotton midi dress or salwar kameez; Lightweight cotton trousers.
Mumbai in December: 32°C / 90°F afternoons, 21°C / 70°F nights at Colaba, a city AQI in CPCB's "Moderate" band and Christmas week to finish.
In this capsule: Rust cotton stole with a twisted fringe; Ivory long cotton kurta, band collar; Marigold cotton blouse, elbow sleeves.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: India Meteorological Department · Colaba · 1991–2020 normalsRain days are IMD rainy days: 2.5 mm or more.
- May: India Meteorological Department · Colaba · 1991–2020 normalsRain days are IMD rainy days: 2.5 mm or more.
- June: India Meteorological Department · Colaba · 1991–2020 normalsRain days are IMD rainy days: 2.5 mm or more.
- July: India Meteorological Department · Colaba · 1991–2020 normalsRain days are IMD rainy days: 2.5 mm or more.
- August: India Meteorological Department · Colaba · 1991–2020 normalsRain days are IMD rainy days: 2.5 mm or more.
- December: India Meteorological Department · Colaba · 1991–2020 normalsRain days are IMD rainy days: 2.5 mm or more.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 6 published guides cover January, May, June, July, August, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at 19°C / 66°F, while May has the highest average high at 34°C / 93°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.