IMD Issues Heatwave Warning for Mumbai as Temperatures Set to Soar Above 38°C on March 9-10
IMD Issues Heatwave Warning for Mumbai as Temperatures Set to Soar Above 38°C on March 9-10
Mumbai is set to experience a heatwave over the weekend, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a warning for March 9 and 10. This marks the second heatwave alert for the city in the past two weeks. Following a brief respite, daytime temperatures are once again on the rise, prompting a yellow warning for “hot and humid” conditions until Friday.
Rising Temperatures Across the City
According to IMD data, Mumbai’s Colaba observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 35.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday, exceeding the normal by over five degrees. This follows Wednesday’s high of 37.4 degrees, further confirming the intensifying heatwave.
Despite soaring daytime temperatures, nighttime conditions remain relatively cooler. On Thursday morning, the suburbs recorded a minimum temperature of 18.6 degrees Celsius, slightly below normal levels.
Heatwave Alert for the Weekend
The IMD has also issued a heatwave alert for the weekend, forecasting temperatures to rise above 38 degrees Celsius from Saturday, March 9, to Sunday, March 10. Meteorologists attribute these heatwave conditions to an anticyclone system forming in the Maharashtra region.
Nitha Sasidharan, a scientist at IMD Mumbai, explained that the developing anticyclone is pushing strong easterly winds from the country’s interior, delaying the arrival of the westerly sea breeze. As a result, temperatures are expected to climb 4-5 degrees above normal.
Historical Heatwave Patterns
A heatwave warning is typically issued when temperatures exceed normal levels by 4-5 degrees for at least two consecutive days. Mumbai experienced a similar alert on February 25 and 26, when temperatures surpassed 38 degrees Celsius for several days.
During last month’s heatwave, Mumbai recorded its highest February temperature in eight years at 38.7 degrees Celsius. March is considered a transitional month between winter and summer, often witnessing significant temperature fluctuations. The city’s highest recorded temperature remains 41.7 degrees Celsius in 1956, while the lowest was 12.7 degrees Celsius in 2012.
Residents are advised to take precautions against heat-related illnesses and stay hydrated as the city braces for another spell of extreme temperatures.
