Mumbai records third highest maximum temperature in a decade

MUMBAI: Mercury levels in the city were seen soaring once again on Saturday as maximum temperatures recorded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Santa Cruz observatory touched 38.6 degrees Celsius. Saturday’s temperatures in fact was the third highest recorded in the last one decade for the month of February according to climatological records of the IMD.
The maximum temperatures recorded by the IMD Santa Cruz observatory were 6.5 degree Celsius above normal.Meanwhile the maximum temperatures recorded by the IMD Colaba observatory were 35.7 degree Celsius which was 5.2 degree Celsius above normal.
The month of February this year has witnessed quiet a few high temperatures with maximum temperatures touching 38.8 degree Celsius barely a week ago on February 17. However there has been a swing a temperatures that can be observed and after recording maximum temperatures as high as 38.8 degree Celsius on February 18; the maximum temperatures on February 21 touched 30.5 degree Celsius.
But barely four days later on February 25 had the maximum temperatures touched 38.6 degrees Celsius. Weathermen said that maximum temperatures are known to reach this high especially in the last days of the month of February. “In fact the maximum temperatures being recorded are aligning itself to the summer pattern. This pattern will slowly set in and March too is known to have some very high temperatures.
Currently the reason for these high temperatures is the strong easterly winds and the sea breeze setting in later than usual,” said K S Hosalikar, scientist and deputy general, western region, IMD. The all-time record for the hottest February day so far stands at 39.6 degrees Celsius recorded on February 25, 1996. The highest maximum temperature recorded in February last year was 33.2 degrees Celsius on February 23,2016.
Meanwhile, the relative humidity recorded by the IMD Colaba and Santa Cruz observatory was 66% and 37% respectively.