After coldest day since 2016, Mumbai sizzles on its hottest December day in past 16 years
The spike in temperature came along the heels of several pockets in the city receiving light drizzle in the early hours of Wednesday.
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On December 14 (Saturday), the night temperature stood at 20.1 degrees, which was 1.6 degrees above normal. (Representative image)Just days after recording its coldest temperatures since eight years, the city sizzled on its hottest December day in the past 16 years (since 2008) as the maximum temperatures soared to 37.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. The spike in temperature came along the heels of several pockets in the city receiving light drizzle in the early hours of Wednesday.
Attributing the unusual weather phenomenon to the influx of strong easterlies as well as moisture, senior scientists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have indicated that Mumbai is likely to experience warmer days for the next 3- 4 days, following which the temperatures are slated to dip.
On Wednesday morning, several pockets such as Juhu, Bandra, Goregaon as well as the island city woke up to unseasonal drizzle. As the day progressed, citizens reeled under high humidity and heats levels with the IMD’s Santacruz observatory logging 37.3 degrees celsius, which is nearly 4 degrees above the normal.
IMD data showed that this was the city’s hottest day in at least 16 years. Prior to this, the hottest day had been recorded in 2008 when the maximum temperatures touched 37.7 degrees on December 5.
This marked a sudden spike from last week when minimum temperatures had dipped to nearly 16 degrees for two days including on November 29 — which was the city’s coldest November day in the past eight years.
Even the night failed to bring the city any respite as the minimum temperatures also soared to 25.5 degrees on Wednesday – its hottest December night since 2022.
According to Sushma Nair, scientist from IMD Mumbai, the increase in temperatures were a result of the strong easterlies, which delayed the sea breeze. Nair said, “Since the strength of the easterly winds was very strong, the sea breeze set in very late. Furthermore, there was an anticyclone at 700 MPA. Owing to these factors, the day temperatures shot up.”
On the unseasonal showers, meanwhile, Sunil Kamble, director of IMD Mumbai said that they were an after-effect of Cyclone Fengal. “Following the cyclone, there has been a low formation in the Arabian Sea which has resulted in moisture incursion. This brought rain to some pockets of the region,” said Kamble.
In its forecast bulletin, the IMD has stated light rains will continue in the neighbouring districts of Raigad and Ratnagiri for the next two days, while eluding Mumbai and Thane.
Meanwhile, the metropolis will continue to swelter for the next 3 – 4 days, with winter-like temperatures likely to set in after December 7. “For the next 2 -3 days, the temperatures may continue to remain in the range of 35 degrees,” added Nair.
While Wednesday was the hottest day of December in the past 16 years, December’s warmest day ever was recorded in 1987 when maximum temperatures soared to 39.8 degrees.
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