Mumbai swelters through second hottest April day, relief expected soon

Temperatures soar to 39.1 degrees celsius; IMD predicts dip in temperatures starting Tuesday

Mumbai endured another scorching day on Monday, with temperatures reaching a sweltering 39.1 degrees Celsius, marking the city’s second hottest April day in the past ten years. This comes amidst an unrelenting heatwave that has gripped the city and surrounding districts throughout April.

The record-breaking temperatures have been a defining feature of this unusually warm April. Mumbai has already experienced five heatwave days this month, including a particularly severe heatwave declared on April 16th. Earlier this month, the city even witnessed its hottest April day in over a decade, with temperatures soaring close to 40 degrees Celsius. Neighbouring Thane also felt the heat, recording a scorching 42 degrees Celsius on Monday.

However, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has finally offered some relief, predicting a drop in temperatures starting Tuesday onwards. Data from the IMD’s Santacruz weather station confirmed Monday as the second hottest April day in a decade. The dubious honour of the hottest April day goes to April 16th of this year, when temperatures peaked at a staggering 39.7 degrees Celsius. Prior to this unprecedented heatwave, Mumbai’s hottest April day was recorded in 2014, with temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius.

The IMD has withdrawn the heatwave alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts, offering a much-needed respite for residents. While Tuesday might still see hot and humid conditions with a yellow alert in place, the weather bureau predicts a further decline in temperatures in the coming days. Mumbai can expect minimum temperatures to hover around 29 degrees Celsius, with highs reaching a more manageable 34 degrees Celsius.

The current heatwave aligns with the IMD’s long-range forecast for Maharashtra, which predicted a warmer-than-usual summer with temperatures potentially exceeding normal highs by 1-2 degrees Celsius.  IMD Mumbai Director Sunil Kamble has attributed the increased heatwaves to climate change and rapid urbanisation, suggesting that residents may have to endure more such scorching periods throughout the summer.