AMID A heatwave sounded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city sweltered on its warmest day of the year as the maximum temperatures reached 39.2 degrees. However, a cooler weekend is likely with the weather department forecasting a dip in scorching heat levels from March 13.
Data furnished by the IMD showed that the Santacruz observatory recorded 39.2 degrees on Tuesday, making it the city’s warmest March day since 2023, when day time temperatures had touched 39.4 degrees on March 13. The Colaba coastal observatory, meanwhile, recorded 38 degrees — which is the station’s warmest March day since 2022, when temperatures soared to 39.4 degrees.
The minimum temperatures also registered a deviation of nearly 3 degrees above the normal as the Santacruz and Colaba stations woke up to readings of 22.8 degrees and 25 degrees respectively.
On Monday afternoon, the city recorded 37.2 degrees Celsius. While the IMD downgraded its heatwave alert for the district on Monday to a yellow alert of ‘hot and humid’ conditions, the weather bureau sounded a fresh heatwave for the day on Tuesday afternoon.
The city is currently reeling under its second heat wave of the season with the first recorded between February 26 – 27. Even as the city recorded high temperatures over 38 degrees for nearly four consecutive days during that period, they remained below 39 degrees — making Tuesday Mumbai’s hottest day of the year.
Meteorologists have attributed the ongoing spell of hot weather to the easterly winds, which have delayed the influx of sea breeze. Mumbai is not a stranger to such high temperatures in March, which is regarded as the month of transition from winters into summers. Records show that the city’s warmest day of the month was recorded at 41.7 degrees in 1956 while its coldest day was registered in 2012 at 12.7 degrees Celsius.
Once the cooler conditions from march 13 leave, temperatures are expected to vary between 34 – 35 degrees, which is normal for the month of March.
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According to Sunil Kamble, director of IMD Mumbai, the dip in temperatures is expected owing to the influx of cool northerly winds as well as the weakening of a high pressure system.
For today (Wednesday), the IMD has extended its yellow warning of ‘hot and humid’ weather conditions with the temperatures likely to touch highs of 37 degrees.
Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents.
Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T)
Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area.
Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including:
Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft).
Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout).
Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks.
Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration.
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