MUMBAI, June 1 -- The city finally got a break from weeks of sweltering heat and sticky humidity on Sunday as widespread pre-monsoon showers swept across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has, however, clarified that the southwest monsoon is yet to arrive and issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms, rain and gusty winds till June 2. Rain lashed across several parts of the city during the early hours, with the eastern suburbs bearing the brunt of the showers. BMC data collected between 6 am and 9 am showed the eastern suburbs recorded an average rainfall of 5 mm, while the western suburbs received 2 mm and the island city just 0.61 mm, underlining the highly localised nature of the first widespread pre-monsoon showers of the season. According to IMD scientist Nitha Sashidharan, the showers were triggered by strong westerly winds and a western disturbance currently influencing weather patterns over northern India and the Arabian Sea. "Today's showers were triggered by westerly winds and a western disturbance associated with rainfall activity over northern India, including Delhi and adjoining regions," said Sashidharan. "We are likely to see light showers over the next few days, with temperatures gradually dipping." Weather officials reiterated that the normal date for the southwest monsoon to arrive over Mumbai is June 11....