Heatwave extended: Mumbai feels the burn at 38 degrees Celsius 3rd day in a row

On Tuesday, while IMD’s Santacruz station registered 38.4 degrees Celsius, which is nearly 5 degrees above the normal, the Colaba coastal observatory recorded a maximum of 34.1 degree Celsius.

Earlier on Monday, the suburbs touched a maximum of 39.1 degrees Celsius, making it the city’s second hottest April day of the past decade. The hottest April day of the decade had been recorded earlier too this month on April 16 when the city touched a scorching maximum temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius.

Amidst the city sweltering for the third consecutive day at over 38 degrees Celsius, the IMD, on Tuesday afternoon, extended the heatwave warning for the city through the day. For Thane and Raigad, meanwhile, the Met has extended the warning of a heatwave in isolated pockets until Wednesday.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sunil Kamble, director of IMD Mumbai, said the heatwave warning had been extended owing to wind patterns and high pressure systems. “While the anticyclonic circulation is weakening, wind patterns and the high pressure system that led to high temperatures, still persist. Therefore, the city is experiencing a heat wave even today,” he said.

Kamble said that the city is slated to witness hot and humid conditions on Wednesday as well, even as the heatwave has not been sounded. Relief is likely on Thursday when temperatures are expected to drop to 34–35 degree Celsius.

Making for an exceptionally warm April, Tuesday was the sixth day of the month when the city sizzled under the heatwave. Alluding to climate change and rapid concretisation, senior IMD scientists have stated that the entire Maharashtra is in for a warmer summer by 1–2 degrees, this year.