Stay indoors this weekend, Met department advises Mumbaikars

Youngsters cool off at Girgaum Chowpatty amid the sultry weather in the city on Thursday. Pic/Ashish Raje

The weather will continue to remain unforgiving for the next two days, said the Indian Meteorological Department as it advised Mumbaikars to stay indoors during the weekend and have lots of fluids. Maximum temperatures in the city have hovered around 38 degrees Celsius for the past three to four days, making the week unusually hot for this time of the year.

Speaking with mid-day, an IMD official said, "The maximum temperature is in a four to five-degree departure from its normal value. The hot and dry easterly and north easterly winds, which are usually lower-level winds, are prevailing…which is what is causing this rise in maximum temperature."

Weather experts have asked citizens to take care particularly between 11 am and 3 pm when the scorching heat coupled with high humidity raises the discomfort level by a few notches.

A man and a child cool off in the sea at Juhu beach amid the mercury rising in the city. Pic/Atul Kamble

The IMD official said the minimum temperature has remained around 20 degrees Celsius over the past week, but it is the maximum temperature that is playing truant.

The official said, "The maximum temperature for the last six days has been rising - with it continuously being above normal for the past three days by at least four to five degrees. Today [Friday] also we are expecting the maximum temperature to be in the same range but from tomorrow onwards, weather models are indicating that there could be some relief, especially in the interior parts of the state. However, for Mumbai, slight relief could be expected after Sunday."

About precautions for Saturday and Sunday, the IMD officials said, "Sit at home and watch TV over the weekend. People such as police, bus drivers, labourers and construction workers who are on the road in the daytime between 11 am and 3 pm should drink plenty of water. A mask and a water bottle should be part of your daily paraphernalia."

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Min temperature in degrees celsius over the past few days