After Saturday showers, temp in city up by 3 degrees Celsius

The city experienced a slight drizzle in some areas on Friday morning resulting in the sweltering heat that troubled Mumbaikars all day on Saturday. At Santacruz, the maximum temperature shot up to 36.1 degrees Celsius, almost three degrees above the normal. The corresponding temperature recorded on June 2 last year was 35 degrees Celsius.

On Saturday, the temperature recorded at Colaba 35.3 degree Celsius, 2.3 degrees higher than normal. Although the temperatures are not so high, it is the humidity which is making people uncomfortable and restless. The humidity levels recorded were 84 per cent at Colaba and 70 per cent at Santacruz.

“A low-level circulation over the Arabian Sea near south Gujarat was recorded, which brought the North Easterly winds towards Mumbai coast and has been the main cause for rise in temperatures and the humidity,” said an IMD official.

The Indian Meteorology Department (IMD) has predicted that the normal onset date for the monsoon over Mumbai is June 6. Last year, the monsoon set over the city on June 12, two days later than its normal onset date.

The current weather conditions are likely to prevail. “Expect cloudy conditions and light pre-monsoon showers over north Konkan, including Mumbai. There are other weather systems such as a trough stretching from north Karnataka up to Tamil Nadu and another development over Kerala which will cause more showers,” said Bishwambhar S, chief public relations officer, Regional Meteorological Centre, IMD.

With a view to escape the rising heat, people are travelling to hill stations but unfortunately, even hill stations are no longer cooler escape destinations. The temperatures at hill stations like Lonavala, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, Matheran, Alibaug and other popular hill stations are increasing as the heat is taking its toll on entire Maharashtra.