Mumbai gets momentary respite from heat as temperatures to rise over weekend: IMD
The Colaba coastal observatory noted a temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius Sunday.
In its seven-day forecast bulletin, the weather bureau announced that daytime temperatures could rise above 37 degrees Celsius starting March 7. (Express File) After extreme heat amid a heatwave alert, temperatures in Mumbai decreased slightly over the weekend, with the Santacruz station recording 35.3 degrees Celsius on Monday. However, this relief is expected to be temporary, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted another temperature increase, potentially reaching 37 to 38 degrees Celsius over the coming weekend.
The Colaba coastal observatory noted a temperature of 31.8 degrees Celsius Sunday. Although the temperatures remained above normal, it marked a significant drop from the previous week, when maximum temperatures reached an eight-year high of 38.7 degrees Celsius on February 26. For at least three consecutive days during that week, temperatures in the city exceeded 38 degrees Celsius, prompting the IMD to issue a heatwave alert for the coastal region. Experts attributed the spell of hot weather in February to a rainfall deficit during the winter.
Currently, a yellow alert has been issued for hot and humid weather conditions in the neighbouring districts of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the IMD has stated that the maximum temperatures will hover in the 34-35 degrees Celsius range until Friday, following which a significant spike is imminent.
In its seven-day forecast bulletin, the weather bureau announced that daytime temperatures could rise above 37 degrees Celsius starting March 7 (Friday). For context, Mumbai’s highest recorded temperature in March was 41.7 degrees Celsius in 1956, while its lowest was 12.7 degrees Celsius, observed in 2012.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Sushma Nair, scientist at IMD Mumbai said that temperatures are expected to spike significantly with highs of up to 38 degrees owing to an anticyclone system, which will usher in the easterly winds.
Meanwhile, Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services attributed the current temperature drop to the influx of north-easterly winds. “For the next few days, Mumbai will receive north-easterly winds. The maximum temperatures will be lower since these winds arrive from the colder, northern regions. However, around March 8-9, the city is likely to start receiving easterly winds from the interiors, which will yet again lead to the spike in temperatures,” said Palawat.
Share
