Even as the city is sweltering under torrid heat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated that Mumbai is in for further spike in heat levels with the temperatures slated to hover up to 36 degrees next week (October 8). Furthermore, the withdrawal of monsoon in the city, which is likely to be delayed, is also likely to trigger thunderstorms during the evening, starting Sunday. On Thursday, the maximum temperature saw a jump of nearly three degrees Celsius from the normal with the mercury at the Santacruz station soaring to 33.8 degrees Celsius. While the temperatures saw a marginal drop on Friday, the IMD has indicated that the mercury is likely to rise steadily in the upcoming week. According to the weather department's forecast, Mumbai's temperature is expected to touch 35 degrees Celsius from Monday (October 7), and then soar over 36 degrees by Tuesday. Scientists from IMD attributed the sudden rise in temperatures to a combination of several factors--ranging from change in wind directions, low wind speed and reduction in rain. Sunil Kamble, director from IMD Mumbai, told The Indian Express, "The temperature will start rising now, owing to change in the wind directions. Due to the reduction in rainfall activity, even the wind speed will slow down, which will lead to increase in temperatures. It is very typical that following monsoon withdrawal, the city starts experiencing October heat." However, alongside the temperature spike, Mumbai is also slated to witness thunderstorm activity and rain from Sunday evening. "Whenever there is an increase in temperatures, the city experiences thunderstorms because of local convection activity," added Kamble. For the record, thunderstorms are a characteristic feature of withdrawal of monsoons in Mumbai. Meteorologists have indicated that the withdrawal of southwest monsoon in Mumbai is likely after October 10, which is slightly delayed from the official date of withdrawal from October 8.