Mumbai: After touching 38 degrees, temperatures to dip towards month end

Photo used for representational purpose

The Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) Automatic Weather Station in Santacruz recorded a maximum temperature of over 38 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, a trend that is likely to continue in Mumbai, Thane and across the Konkan region for the next three to four days. According to the IMD's model guidance, even though a temporary dip in the temperature levels is expected thereafter, the discomfort due to the heat will be at an all-time high due to the onset of westerly winds, which leads to an increase in moisture content of the air.

"Take care and drink plenty of water as March has a history of recording extreme temperatures," said an IMD official, adding that heatwave conditions were "very likely" at isolated places over the Konkan region and Goa between Wednesday and Thursday. March marks a seasonal change for the state and earlier, temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius had been recorded, said the official.

The temperature crossed the 38-degree mark earlier this month as well. The official further said, "In the last week of March and towards the beginning of April, wind pattern over the Arabian Sea changes from easterly to westerly, which also brings in a lot of moisture. The model guidance indicates that in the last week of this month (around 27-28), the maximum temperature across the entire Konkan region, including Mumbai and Thane, will be around 38 degrees Celsius. After this, the remaining days of March and the first week of April will see a slight downward trend in terms of the temperature, which will reach around 34-36 degrees Celsius."

"This drop in temperature will be caused due to the westerly winds that blow inwards from over the sea, but they increase the moisture content in the air, a phenomenon called The Marine Influence. Mumbaikars will have no option but to sweat it out initially while their bodies adapt to the shift in temperatures," the official concluded.

Thunderstorms
The IMD also said that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense spells of rain, as well as gusty winds, were likely to occur in the districts of Satara, Pune, Nashik, Dhule and Kolhapur late on Wednesday. There is also a possibility of hail at isolated places in Kolhapur district.