Nearly two weeks after the official withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, Mumbai experienced scorching heat with a daytime temperature of 36.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, making it the hottest October day in four years. This temperature tied with the maximum temperature recorded on October 16, 2021. The city’s all-time record for October so far is 38.6 degrees Celsius, recorded on October 17, 2015, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

IMD scientist Sushma Nair attributed the spike in day temperatures to the prevailing easterly to southeasterly winds at lower altitudes. Nair explained that the calmness of these winds leads to the entrapment of moisture, resulting in the formation of mist during early mornings. Additionally, an anticyclonic circulation at the mid-tropospheric level was identified as a significant contributing factor to the prevailing atmospheric conditions.

On Wednesday, the IMD Santacruz observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 36.4 degrees Celsius, which was 2.4 degrees above normal. The IMD Colaba observatory recorded 33.2 degrees Celsius, which was -0.3 degrees below normal. The previous day, the Santacruz and Colaba weather stations recorded daytime temperatures of 34.6 degrees Celsius and 33.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Humidity levels were also high, with the Colaba and Santacruz stations recording 77% and 70% humidity, respectively. Abhijit Modak, an independent forecaster managing the Konkan Weather blog, attributed the rise in daytime temperatures to the delayed onset of the sea breeze. Modak highlighted the role of the prevailing low-pressure system, which drew away moisture due to prolonged land breeze from the northeast until around 2.30 pm.

This scorching October day in Mumbai serves as a reminder of the impact of changing weather patterns and the need to monitor and adapt to these conditions. As temperatures rise, it becomes crucial to implement effective measures to mitigate the effects of heat and protect vulnerable populations from heat-related illnesses.

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