Take cover! Heatwave strikes Mumbai again

A man takes a sip of water while walking in the scorching heat, at Azad Maidan, Fort, on Monday. IMD predicts rise in temperature and heatwaves for the rest of this week in central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha. Pic/Satej Shinde

Mumbaikars need to brace for heatwaves, again, for the next few days, according to the forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday. The IMD has predicted heatwave conditions in parts of Marathwada, Vidarbha and central Maharashtra, including Mumbai, for the next three-four days. Weather forecasters have warned that the current heat wave conditions could cause moderate health concerns for senior citizens, infants and people with chronic diseases.

A gradual rise in maximum temperatures, by 2-3 degrees Celsius, is very likely in the state this week. A yellow alert, indicating a heatwave in isolated pockets, has been issued for Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Sholapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani and Hingoli districts from March 31 to April 3.

"Heatwave conditions have been predicted in parts of Madhya (central) Maharashtra for the next three days, starting March 30 and from March 31 to April 3 in areas under the Marathwada region," said Sushma Nair, a scientist at IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai.

Meteorologists of Skymet Weather, a private weather forecasting agency, said, "For Maharashtra, all three pockets of the subdivisions of Marathwada, Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha have been observing heatwave conditions. These conditions are expected to remain the same for at least the next three-four days. Thereafter, i.e. April 4 onwards, there may be some relief from the scorching heat."

On Wednesday, the IMD's Santacruz observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius. The Colaba observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 33.1 degrees Celsius during the same period. According to the forecast for the next 48 hours, the temperature in the city is likely to hover around 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. The city was struck by heatwaves around mid-March and the mercury had touched 40 degrees Celsius.