Mumbaikars to face the (scorching) heat today, too

After two months of pleasant weather, Mumbaikars have been hit by a blistering encounter with summer. The temperature across Mumbai and MMR soared to around 40 degrees Celsius on Monday due to the heatwave, which had been forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD's Santacruz observatory recorded 39.6 degrees Celsius, while Colaba reported 39.4 degrees Celsius on Monday. The temperature is six degrees higher than normal.

On Sunday, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius, 5.7 degrees Celsius above normal, while on Monday, even in Colaba, the temperature was close to 40 degrees Celsius, a rare phenomenon, despite the area's proximity to the sea.

The IMD had predicted the heatwave when the maximum temperature in the coastal parts had reached 37 degrees Celsius and deviated at least 4.5 degrees than normal. There are at least five instances in the past decade where day temperature had crossed 40 degrees Celsius in March. The highest recorded temperature of 41.7 degrees Celsius was on March 28, 1956.

"Northwesterly dry and hot air is delaying winds from the sea. Even the sky is clear, due to which, the temperatures are soaring," said an official from IMD, Mumbai. She said the heatwave to severe heatwave conditions were very likely over parts of Konkan-Goa, including Mumbai during the next two days. Due to the prevailing clear skies and low humidity, temperatures are expected to rise and similar conditions are likely to prevail for the next two days.

Thane recorded 37.8 degrees Celsius and Ratnagiri saw 40.2 degrees Celsius. The heatwave will continue in coastal regions of the state including Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.

39.6°c
Temperature recorded at Santacruz observatory on Monday

Highest March temperatures in the last decade
2021 40.9
2020 37.5
2019 40.3
2018 41
2017 38.4
2016 38.2
2015 40.8
2014 38
2013 40.5
2012 39.5
All-time record 41.7 (March 28, 1956)
(in degrees Celsius)