With the arrival of winter, minimum temperatures dipped below 20 degrees Celsius for the first time this season, as Mumbai woke up to chilly air on Sunday morning. Mercury levels reached 19.6 degrees Celsius, which represents a drop of more than two degrees from normal.
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Data provided by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed that on Sunday morning, the suburban observatory in Santacruz recorded a minimum temperature of 19.6 degrees Celsius, which is 2.3 degrees below normal. This represents a decrease of two degrees from Friday morning, when the station recorded 21.2 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the Colaba Coastal Observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning, which was 1.7 degrees below normal.
While daytime temperatures dropped below 20 degrees Celsius for the first time this season, records showed that the maximum temperature reached 32.9 degrees Celsius in the island city section on Saturday. Earlier this month, as unseasonal rains lashed the city, daytime temperatures dropped to 27 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest November day in Mumbai in at least a decade.
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This decrease came as a result of the flow of northern winds over the region, amid snowfall on the hills of the northern states.
“Several hills in north India witnessed snowfall. This has brought northerly and north-easterly winds to the region. As these winds are cold and dry, it has led to a drop in temperature across north-central India, as well as Maharashtra, including Mumbai. In the next two-three days, the temperature may drop slightly,” Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services told the Indian Express.
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“Until another system develops and stops the flow of northerly winds, the weather may continue to be pleasant in the coming days,” Palawat added.
According to the Met office, minimum temperatures in Mumbai and its adjoining areas are likely to range between 18-19 degrees Celsius, while daytime temperatures may remain in the range of 34-35 degrees.
However, falling temperatures have also led to higher levels of air pollution. After recording satisfactory air in the previous week due to unseasonal rains, Mumbai’s air quality index (AQI) has risen over the past two days, reaching 104 on Sunday morning, which is classified as moderate.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the worst air quality index was recorded on Sunday in the Suri 250 area, which was classified as poor, while ozone was classified among the most prominent pollutants during this period.
(Tags for translation)Mumbai Weather
