Temperature,humidity swings mark month

Temperature and humidity fluctuations are marking the February weather this year,a phenomenon that is unusual in Mumbai during this month,according to the India Meteorological Department.

Temperature and humidity fluctuations are marking the February weather this year,a phenomenon that is unusual in Mumbai during this month,according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Usually,winter in the city starts in December but peaks only in January and February. However,this year temperatures have remained rather high since the beginning of February,and fluctuations are severe and rapid, said K Satidevi,director of IMD,Mumbai.

February started with a maximum temperature of 31.8°C and minimum of 19.20°C. The temperature has been fluctuating by nearly 1°C everyday since the beginning of the month. On Sunday,a bout of easterly winds took the maximum temperature to 35.3°C and minimum to 20.3°C. Interestingly,the temperature plunged immediately on Monday,recording a maximum temperature of 30.8°C and minimum of 19.4°C in Santacruz a steep 4.5°C drop in maximum and 0.9°C in minimum temperatures.

Satidevi attributed these unpredictable weather fluctuations across the state to changes in the sky conditions (cloudy or clear),wind direction and speed and moisture content in the atmosphere.

Firstly,there are intense western distributions (WD) in north which is penetrating to the lower latitudes and causing cloudiness over the state. Secondly,the wind direction is highly random- on Sunday,we saw warm easterly winds and on Monday,there is a sudden incursion of north to north-westerly winds. Thirdly,the incessant WDs are causing high moisture, she said.

WDs are systems occurring in north India and it usually brings cool air to the region. Satidevi,however,explained that while a WD causes a drop in temperature upon passing,an approaching WD usually brings moisture with it. This year,the WD pattern is intense and occurring one after the other,thereby keeping the moisture intact. The IMD has also predicted similar fluctuations in weather conditions for some more days.

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Mumbai
weather