At 11.9°C, city shivers on coldest Jan day since 2013

The city recorded its coldest January day since 2013 on Thursday.

The night temperature at the Santacruz weather station, representative of Mumbai, fell to 11.9 degrees Celsius, 5 degrees Celsius below normal.

On January 6, 2013, Mumbai had recorded 10.4 degrees Celsius and this Wednesday’s night temperature has been the lowest since then.

However, the lowest minimum for the first month of the year was recorded on January 29, 2012, at 10 degrees Celsius and Khanderi, India’s second Scorpene class submarine, was launched at the Mazagon docks on Thursday, adding to the nation’s naval might with a vessel possessing superior stealth technology. The vessel will undergo extensive trials at sea and harbour till December to test equipment before it is commissioned into the Indian Navy. the all-time low for the month was recorded on January 22, 1962 at 7.4 degrees Celsius.

Colaba, too, recorded the night temperature 2.3 degrees Celsius below normal on Thursday at 16.5 degrees Celsius, making it the lowest minimum temperature for south Mumbai this season.

Officials from the weather bureau said the weather pattern during early morning hours was leading to the drop in temperatures.

“The city has been observing cool winds from the northwestern parts of the country during the day. In the early hours of the day, the wind speed picks up and the pattern becomes northerly, which is even colder winds. This is leading to a daily drop in temperatures,” said Shubhangi Bhute, director, Regional Meteorological Centre, India Meteorological Department.

“We expect temperatures to remain at this level for the next two days from Thursday.”

Day temperatures in the city were two degrees Celsius below normal.

Pollution levels improved marginally on Thursday morning as the air quality index was recorded at 248 (poor) as compared to 254 (poor) on Wednesday evening. Senior citizens cover up on a chilly evening at Marine Drive on Thursday.

KUNAL PATIL/HT