Mumbai is likely to witness warm and humid days ahead. The mercury will rise to cross mid 30’s, possibly reaching the highest temperature of this season, so far. Being a coastal station, humidity levels as such, remain high and the day temperature, if breaching the 35°C mark, becomes stifling and annoying. Such conditions remained elusive so far, as the temperatures were generally hovering much below the threshold of 35°C. For the last few days, the maximum remained below 32°C and crossed this mark at 32.5°C yesterday, since 13th March.
Financial capital, Mumbai is likely to come in for some harsh days during this week when the mercury is expected to rise into the high 30’s. Even, the rise of 1-2°C, with humidity levels in excess of 50% in the afternoon, raises the discomfort, phenomenally. The mercury may touch 37°C, the first time in this season, close to the weekend. Mumbai has a track record of touching or exceeding the 40°C mark in March, on more than one occasion. The mercury breached 41°mark in March 2011 & 2018. The highest ever was 41.7°C on 28 Mar 1956.
Presently, a series of western disturbances are moving across the northern mountains in quick succession. In the wake, winds from the plains of Rajasthan, Gujrat and Madhya Pradesh continue to reach, with a fair amount of force, the Konkan coast, at least in the lower levels. This has been keeping the morning temperature, unabatedly pleasant. Also, the sea breeze has been setting quite early and restricting the rise in temperature, thereafter. This pattern is expected to change, albeit temporarily, amounting to a rise in temperatures.
An anticyclonic circulation is likely, off the Konkan and South Gujarat coast, in the Arabian Sea. This is likely to break the uninterrupted flow of land winds from the north. The unsettled weather patterns of winds will extend and cover the Konkan coast, including Mumbai. The duration of strong land breeze in the morning hours will be curtailed. The onset of sea breeze may also get delayed. Delay, if any, of even one hour amounts to about 2°C or even more, rise in the afternoon temperature. Unlike in the past, the mercury is not expected to shoot beyond 37-38°C. Still, an oppressive weekend may trouble the Mumbaikars, with an immediate hope of relief, thereafter.
