The pleasantly persistent winter chill that has embraced Mumbai since mid-January began to gradually wane over the weekend. As this week unfolds, both daytime and nighttime temperatures will continue their gradual rise, only for cooler conditions to make a comeback in February.
Mumbai’s Santacruz observatory readings indicate maximum temperatures settling around 35°C since the weekend, approximately three notches above the seasonal norm. Meanwhile, the Colaba-based coastal observatory noted daytime temperatures reaching 33°C on Sunday (Jan 28).
Even the minimum temperatures recorded in Santacruz and Colaba during Monday’s early hours stood at 18.4°C and 21°C, respectively, surpassing their individual normals by one and two degrees.
This recent temperature surge is being driven by a shift in wind patterns. The Maharashtrian capital is currently experiencing warm south-easterly winds due to an anti-cyclonic development, contributing to the rise in temperature, Sunil Kamble from IMD Mumbai told The Indian Express.
However, the impact of this weather system will be temporary, with temperatures expected to cool down again at the start of February. According to IMD Mumbai scientist Sushma Nair, next weekend’s weather may well resemble the pleasant conditions experienced last week.
Corroborating these forecasts, the IMD predicts maximum temperatures in the range of 27-28°C and minimums as low as 18°C on February 1 and 2, with foggy mornings also likely around this time.
The expected dissipation of an active western disturbance — a system that is currently triggering heavy rain and snowfall over North India — may usher in cold northerly winds to Mumbai by next weekend, further intensifying the city’s chill.
But don’t let the recent cold fool you; Mumbai has experienced a warm winter this year. On January 12, the financial capital recorded a maximum temperature of 35.7°C, marking its warmest January day in the past seven years.
