In no respite for residents, Mumbai continued to swelter under tepid heat on Tuesday as the maximum temperatures surpassed 36 degrees Celsius for the second consecutive day this week. Attributing the high temperatures to easterlies, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a dip in temperatures in the coming days amid possibility of thunderstorms and light rain. In the neighbouring districts of Thane and Raigad, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert on Wednesday alluding to the likelihood of moderate rains coupled with thunderstorms and gusty winds. Ringing in a departure of over three degrees above the normal, the maximum temperatures at the IMD's Santacruz observatory soared to 36.4 degrees while Colaba coastal station clocked 33.4 degrees on Tuesday. This comes a day after the temperature levels had touched 36.5 degrees in the suburbs. Speaking to The Indian Express, Sushma Nair, scientist at IMD Mumbai said, "The rise in the temperatures comes in light of the change in wind direction and mainly owing to the presence of easterlies. While the temperature may subside and hover around 34 degrees in the coming days, it is likely the temperatures may soar again." The rising temperatures-amid the absence of showers-is not unprecedented and is a common phenomenon typical to October. Data procured from the IMD show that the hottest October day in a decade had been logged at 38.6 degrees in 2015. Meanwhile, as the city gears up for the monsoon withdrawal, the weather department has also forecast the likelihood of thunderstorms and light rain in Mumbai, starting Wednesday. While the official date of monsoon withdrawal in Mumbai is October 10, scientists have indicated that the withdrawal may be marginally delayed this year. So far, the line of south west monsoon withdrawal has only crossed one district of Maharashtra, which it entered on October 5.
