Mumbai reels under heat, humidity; next temperature dip only after 3 – 4 days, no relief for now, says IMD

Last year, on the same day, Mumbai had recorded its hottest February day of the season, when the maximum temperatures soared to 37.9 degrees Celsius on February 19.

Sunil Kamble, director, IMD Mumbai, told The Indian Express that temperatures were slated to drop after three-four days. “The current temperatures in the range of 19 – 34 degrees Celsius will continue to remain for the next four to five days. It is because of the western disturbances (WD) that temperatures are relatively higher in the city. Because of the WDs, the northerlies have not entered Mumbai.”

“We expect the WDs to clear after three days, following which we expect temperatures to dip again in the city,” he added.

Responding to questions about the ongoing warm temperatures, scientists from IMD Mumbai maintained that this was a typical occurrence during winters.

Data procured from the weather bureau showed that the hottest February day — in the past decade — was recorded in 2015 and 2017 when the maximum temperatures reached 38.8 degree Celsius.

Even as citizens grappled with high temperatures, the air quality in Mumbai improved significantly on Monday, with the overall AQI standing at 109, which stood at 144 on Sunday evening. Of the city’s 23 recording stations, ten pockets in the city recorded an AQI that were in the double digits, falling in the good bracket. The best air quality was observed in Malad West at 78, followed by Colaba (87) and Mulund West (88). The worst AQI, meanwhile, was recorded in Worli’s Siddharth Nagar at 185.