Heat Wave Conditions In Mumbai: Temperatures Soar To High Thirties
Key Takeaways:
- Mumbai recorded 38.7°C at Santacruz, the highest temperature of the year so far.
- The temperature was 5.7°C above normal, leading to heat wave conditions in the city.
- Delayed sea breeze after 1:30 p.m. triggered a sharp temperature rise across the city.
- Such early-season heat is unusual, though Mumbai has crossed 40°C in March on rare occasions.
As on expected lines, Mumbai temperatures have risen to extreme levels early in the season. The capital city recorded a day maximum of 38.7°C at Santacruz, the highest of this year so far. The temperature was 5.7°C above normal, amounting to heat wave conditions for the city. Today is not likely to be any different and the mercury will maintain the same grade.
Mumbai does record such high temperatures in March, but mostly during the last ten days of the month. The coastal city has even breached the 40°C mark on a few earlier occasions in March. However, this is one of the earliest breaches of 38°C for the city, and having a repeat of such temperatures on consecutive days is rather unusual.
Heat wave conditions for coastal cities arise on breaching the 37°C mark. When the day temperature reaches or exceeds 37°C and the departure from normal becomes 4.5°C or more, a heat wave is announced for coastal locations. For the plains, the threshold value remains 40°C.
The seasonal anticyclone is displaced from parts of Rajasthan and adjoining West Madhya Pradesh. The wind pattern is predominantly from land for parts of North Madhya Maharashtra and the Konkan Coast. Such conditions delay the onset of sea breeze and trigger a rise in temperatures. Yesterday, the onset of sea breeze was beyond 1:30 p.m. Any time the sea breeze gets delayed beyond 1200 hrs, the rise of temperature becomes steep and it shoots to about 37°C or more very quickly. Under such conditions, the mercury can rise at the rate of over 3°C per hour.
Heat wave conditions for coastal stations stipulate surface temperatures above 37°C with departure from normal of 4.5°C or more. A temperature departure of 6.5°C or more amounts to severe heat wave conditions. Such conditions are not very common and rather rare during the month of March. Santacruz has an all-time March record high of 41.7°C, established on 28th March 1956.
