Mercury will continue to remain high for the next 3-4 days: IMD

For the 11th time this October heat, the city has recorded a temperature above 37 degrees Celsius causing severe hot and dry weather conditions. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official said drier easterly winds caused the spike in the temperatures and have forecasted that mercury would continue to remain high for the coming next three to four days.

As per officials from India Meteorological Department (IMD) currently the west coast winds are north easterly to easterly causing the hot conditions. "On Monday while the maximum temperature was 37.1 degree Celsius and the minimum was 21.8 degree Celsius, which means there is a difference of almost 15.9 degree Celsius between the maximum and minimum temperatures that makes the day even more uncomfortable," said the official. K S Hosalikar, Director (IMD, Mumbai), said such large variation in temperature is common once the monsoon is over a variation of 15 degrees Celsius in minimum and maximum temperatures is quite common. “The reason for the rise in temperatures is the warm and dry northerly winds. Dry air is known to contain pollutants which mix with the cold breeze from the sea that is also responsible for the smog,” added Hosalikar.

Last week on Tuesday the maximum temperature recorded was 37.6 degree Celsius

and not only IMD officials but the private weather forecasting groups too have been citing that this October has not only been one of the hottest in the decade but also has seen the lowest rainfall in the same period. The sudden variations in the temperatures have given rise to a number of illnesses. Dr Avinash Supe, the director of major civic hospitals said, the variation in temperatures for the past few days has resulted in a spurt in cases of viral fever, sore throat, cough, body aches and stomach. “A large number of patients complaining of maladies like fever, cold, cough and sore throat owing to change in climate have been coming to the hospital," added Dr Supe.