1 week Ago By Avni Arya
Mumbai Temperature: While much of Maharashtra continues to sizzle under an unforgiving heatwave, Mumbai has managed to keep its cool, at least for now. On Thursday, the city recorded a relatively modest 33.8 degrees Celsius, even as at least 17 India Meteorological Department (IMD) observatories across the state logged temperatures at or above 40 degrees Celsius.
But while the mercury may not be soaring, Mumbaikars aren’t exactly breathing a sigh of relief, thanks to stifling humidity levels that make the city feel far hotter than it is. Mumbai’s unusual cool spell comes at a time when cities like Akola are grappling with extreme heat, with temperatures touching a blistering 43.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
IMD data revealed that while Mumbai’s Santacruz observatory recorded a high of 33.8 degrees Celsius, the Colaba coastal station noted a slightly warmer 34 degrees Celsius. Elsewhere in the Konkan belt, temperatures stayed similarly manageable – Ratnagiri registered 32.
2 degrees Celsius, Panjim 34.9 degrees Celsius, and Dahanu 36.3 degrees Celsius.
So, what’s keeping Mumbai and the Konkan-Goa region relatively cool? According to IMD Mumbai Director Shubhangi Bhute, the dip in temperatures is due to the weakening of an anticyclone system that was earlier hovering over the Arabian Sea, along with the early arrival of sea breeze during the day. “Now, this anticyclone system has moved away from the west coast, and furthermore, the sea breeze is setting in during the early hours of the day, resulting in the drop of temperatures,” she said, as per The Indian Express. Meteorological charts also show northwesterly winds prevailing at lower atmospheric levels over the region, adding to the cooling effect.
Meanwhile, the interiors of Maharashtra are heating up, owing to a wind discontinuation which is disrupting airflow and keeping warm air trapped. High Humidity Leaves Mumbaikars Hot and BotheredDespite the cooler temperatures, the city’s notorious humidity is ensuring that comfort remains out of reach for most residents. On Friday, Colaba’s observatory recorded an 88% relative humidity level, while Santacruz was not far behind at 81% — a staggering 12% above normal.
Bhute explained, “Even though the temperatures have dropped to normal, the humidity levels have remained very high.” High humidity hampers the body’s natural cooling mechanism — sweat evaporation — making the heat feel stickier and more exhausting. The air’s high moisture content traps heat around the body, leading to discomfort even on days when the thermometer doesn’t look alarming.
Cool Spell Short-Lived as Heat Surge Looms While Mumbaikars may be enjoying a brief escape from the worst of the summer scorch, it’s not likely to last long. The IMD’s latest bulletin warns of a temperature rise starting next week, with maximums expected to surge to 36 degrees Celsius and beyond after Tuesday. Mahesh Palawat from Skymet Weather Services noted, “While the winds are predominantly westerly now, there is the likelihood of an influx of northerly winds passing from the warmer South Gujarat region.
This will lead to a spike of temperatures up to 35 to 36 degrees Celsius. However, they are unlikely to soar beyond this range for now.” Historically, Mumbai has recorded temperatures as high as 38-39 degrees Celsius in April.
In fact, the hottest April day of 2024 so far peaked at 39.7 degrees Celsius. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Mumbai and around the world.
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