Mumbai temperature at 36.7 degrees; anticyclone system to spur further spike to 38 degrees

Data furnished by the weather bureau showed that while the Santacruz station logged 36.7 degrees, which is 5.3 degrees above the normal, on the mercury scales, the Colaba coastal observatory also reeled under above normal temperatures of 32.9 degrees on Friday. This came a day after the city witnessed a sudden spike of four degrees on Thursday when the suburbs registered a maximum temperature of 36 degrees.

While citizens are reeling under warm days, the nights have remained cooler with the Santacruz station recording 19.2 degrees on Friday morning while the Colaba observatory registered 21.5 degrees.

Weather experts said the anomalous spike in temperatures was spurred by the presence of an anticyclone system along the western coast, which has ushered in warmer north westerly winds. Meanwhile, meteorologists also pointed that absence of westerly disturbances has prevented the influx of northerly winds, which are primarily responsible for Mumbai’s cool spell during winters.

In its forecast, the IMD has stated that the temperature could further escalate to 38 degrees on Saturday, in what could make it the city’s warmest February day since 2020 when the temperatures had touched 38.4 degrees Celsius. The weather bureau has forecast that the temperatures will continue to hover around 35 degrees until February 18 at least, following which the city may witness a marginal drop in heat levels.

For the record, Mumbai’s hottest February day ever was recorded in 1966 when the maximum temperatures touched 39.5 degrees while its coldest day was observed when temperatures dipped to 8.5 degrees in the year 2008.