Mercury to drop to 16 degree Celsius in Mumbai as city ushers in New Year; temperature to dip in coming days

“Currently, there is an anticyclonic flow which ushers in cold winds. Furthermore, the winds are also predominantly northerly and northeasterly, which has led to a dip in temperature,” Singh said.

He added, “However, the wind speed is also forecast to be slow and reduced, owing to which there will be haziness in the skies during the day and night. After three to four days, wind speed will increase, and the visibility will also improve subsequently.”

In its forecast bulletin, the weather bureau has mentioned the possibility of partly cloudy skies with haze until January 2, following which the skies are expected to become clear. The minimum temperature is forecast to dip below 16 degree Celsius while the maximum is poised to hover around 31 degree Celsius over the next couple of days, following which it will spike.

As the wind speed reduced, the city’s air quality deteriorated on Wednesday morning, with all pockets of Mumbai logging Air Quality Index (AQI) over 100, which is categorised as moderate. Of the 23 stations active on Wednesday, the worst AQI was logged at 186 in Powai, followed by 174 in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), 169 in Byculla, and 158 in Chakala. Overall, Mumbai’s AQI touched 136 during the same period.