For the last one week there has been a rapid increase in temperatures in Mumbai. This can be understood from the fact that the day temperatures in the city have been settling 5-8 degrees above the monthly average of 32°C, while the night temperatures are observing a rise of 2-3 degrees. This has made the weather extremely hot and uncomfortable for Mumbaikars.
According to the data available with Skymet Meteorology Division in India, Mumbai recorded 40.8°C as the day temperature on Wednesday, which is 8 degrees above normal and highest of the month so far. The rise in temperature is almost 7 degrees from the previous day of 33.3°C. It is also the second highest temperature recorded in a decade. The highest is 41.3°C, recorded on March 17, 2011. The all-time high is 41.7°C observed on March 28, 1956.
Such high temperatures are not witnessed very frequently. The rise in temperature is due to a low level anti cyclonic circulation over north Arabian Sea and adjoining Gujarat that is not allowing moist cool winds to blow over the city. Land winds, which are warm in nature have become more prominent and are assisting in rise in temperatures.
The night temperatures have also been settling above normal. For instance the minimum temperature in the city settled at 25.6°C on Thursday morning, which is 3 degrees above the monthly average.
These temperatures will however, not sustain for a longer period of time but Skymet still expects the day temperatures to maintain in the mid thirties. So the discomfort level will remain.
