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Mumbai temperature may soar over to 36 degrees by weekend, says IMD

In what ushered a significant relief for citizens after a heatwave between March 9 and 12, temperatures saw a stark dip in the previous week with the maximum temperatures oscillating between 32 and 33 degrees over the weekend.

However, weather experts have alluded that the temperatures in the city are expected to spike gradually owing to the change in wind directions. (Express Photo)

After experiencing some respite from the extreme temperatures over the past week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that temperatures are set to soar in the coming days with the maximum temperatures likely to hover over 36 degrees from March 29.

In what ushered a significant relief for citizens after a heatwave between March 9 and 12, temperatures saw a stark dip in the previous week with the maximum temperatures oscillating between 32 and 33 degrees over the weekend. On Monday, the Santacruz observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 33 degrees–which is 0.2 degree below the normal–while the Colaba coastal observatory logged 32.7 degrees on the mercury scales. The minimum temperatures, meanwhile, touched 23.8 degrees in the suburbs and 24.9 degrees in the island city division on Monday morning — remaining over one degree above the normal.

However, weather experts have alluded that the temperatures in the city are expected to spike gradually owing to the change in wind directions.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services said that currently Mumbai and the nearby regions are receiving south westerly and westerly winds which have ensured that the temperatures are cooler while humidity levels have spiked. The data showed that the Santacruz station registered a humidity level of 84 percent on Monday, which is nearly 13 percent over the normal.

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“Owing to the western disturbance over Himalayas, the region is receiving westward winds from the Arabian Sea. However, soon the wind directions will change that will result in the influx of northerly and north westerly winds, leading to the temperature spike,” added Palawat. In its forecast bulletin, the IMD has stated that while temperatures will remain in the range of 32 to 33 degrees until Friday, when the maximum temperatures will rise over the weekend. Forecasters have indicated a rise of up to 36 degrees between Saturday and Sunday.

The air quality also hovered in the satisfactory category with the overall air quality index (AQI) touching 92 on Monday morning. Of the city’s 24 stations, at least 20 stations recorded an AQI in the category of 50 to 100 with the best AQI recorded in Byculla at 63.

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