Mumbai is expected to experience a rise in temperatures from Wednesday, April 16, to Thursday, April 17, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a yellow alert due to anticipated hot and humid weather conditions. The weather forecast predicts that maximum temperatures will exceed 35 degrees Celsius starting Wednesday.
On Monday, the Santacruz observatory in the city measured maximum temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius, which is 1.6 degrees above the average for this time of year. Meanwhile, the Colaba coastal observatory recorded temperatures of 33.7 degrees Celsius during the same time frame. The city has been experiencing discomfort due to high humidity, with the heat index reaching over 38 degrees Celsius in various areas.
The heat index indicates how hot it feels when humidity is combined with the actual air temperature.
The IMD has warned that there will be no relief from the heat in the coming days, as it anticipates hot and humid weather conditions to persist across the Konkan region. Mumbai, along with other districts in the Konkan such as Palghar, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg, is under a yellow alert for Wednesday and Thursday. Additionally, neighboring districts Thane and Raigad will also be on alert starting Tuesday.
Forecasts suggest that temperatures in Mumbai could reach up to 35 degrees Celsius, while Thane may experience temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius during this period.
Meteorologists have linked the expected increase in temperatures to an anticyclone circulation that is likely to bring in dry northerly winds.
At this point, the IMD has not issued any heatwave alerts. A heatwave is typically declared in coastal areas like Mumbai when maximum temperatures consistently exceed the normal range by 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius.
Historically, Mumbai has seen heatwaves in April, often interrupted by short periods of cooler weather. According to the IMD’s historical data, the hottest day recorded in April occurred in 1952, when temperatures reached 42.2 degrees Celsius on April 14.
