At 36.6°C,a sizzling Colaba Sunday: Unusual October weather continues

But this year,Santacruz has received 120.1 mm rainfall in October which is double its normal of 62.9 mm and Colaba has received 65.6 mm rain,a tad above its normal of 64.9 mm.

These are the fourth highest rain figures for October from 2001-11.

In fact,this is the third consecutive year and only the fourth time in the last ten years that rainfall has been double of the normal for October. “For the past three-four years,there has been a delay in withdrawal of monsoon which has brought more than normal rain in October. This year too,the withdrawal has been delayed, having the same effect,” said Ajay Kumar,meteorologist,India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Although October is expected to be hot,city temperatures have been two to four degrees above the normal of 32°C all month.

However,this October has been cooler than most in the last decade with Sunday’s 36.6° Cat Colaba coming in only at number five on the list of highest October temperatures for Colaba from 2001 to 2011. In fact,Santcruz’s 36.2°C on Sunday is the third lowest on the list. “A combination of the dry north easterly winds which are blowing over this region currently and transition brought on by withdrawal of monsoon has lead to the high temperatures in October in the city this year,” said Kumar.

Unusually,the minimum temperatures have been quite low,dropping to as much as 21.6°C,which Kumar attributes to dry air mass and low humidity.

The city will continue to feel the heat as the Met department expects temperatures to remain high in the coming week. “The monsoon has not withdrawn yet but it is expected to do so soon. After that,temperatures will drop,” said Kumar.