Humidity and heat soars in Mumbai as IMD forecast falls flat

On Friday afternoon, the IMD issued an updated forecast bulletin of yellow alert for Mumbai, stating the likelihood of thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds to the speed of 30-40 kmph. However, until at least night, showers eluded the district, after a brief spell in the early hours. Data furnished by the IMD showed until Friday morning, the Colaba station had logged 1.5 mm rain while the Santacruz station recorded ‘nil’ rain.

However, the city continued to experience cloudy skies, as the humidity levels soared close to 90 percent in the island city division. In what left the citizens high and dry, the maximum temperatures hovered above 34 degrees at the Santacruz as well as Colaba observatory while the humidity levels touched 88 percent in the coastal division.

What makes high humidity uncomfortable for people is its preventative effect on the body’s natural ability to cool down. Being indicative of high moisture content in the air, high relative humidity levels slow down the process of sweat evaporation from the body–an essential process for losing heat–in what induces discomfort and sticky sweat.

However, the weather bureau has stated the likelihood of moderate showers with thunderstorms in Mumbai as well as neighbouring areas. This is likely to spur a drop in temperatures below 33 degrees, after Monday.

Making for an unusual May, the city has reeled under no heatwave days so far while also experiencing intermittent showers since the previous week. So far, the Colaba station has logged 62.8 mm rain while the Santacruz station has registered 38.4 mm rain — making it Mumbai’s wettest May since 2021.