From today, expect temperature to dip, better air quality

Mumbai residents, who had been enjoying pleasant weather until recently, are now back to complaining about the heat. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature soared to 35.3 degrees Celsius, almost five degrees above normal. Apart from the hot and humid weather, deteriorating air quality has also been a concern. However, experts contend both these factors will improve after Wednesday.

The sudden increase in temperatures has been attributed to the feeble trough from the north coastal Maharashtra region. “Strong easterly winds continued to prevail on Tuesday, causing the maximum temperature of the city to rise four degrees above normal as compared to Saturday when it was two degrees above normal,” said an IMD official.

The Santacruz weather station recorded 19.6 degrees Celsius, while Colaba recorded 21.2 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature recorded at the Colaba weather station was 35.3 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal and Santacruz recorded 32.4 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees above normal.

However, private weather forecasters have predicted warm and partly cloudy weather conditions will continue for the next three days. “From Wednesday, Mumbai can expect cooler days and nights till Saturday. The maximum temperature would range from 27 to 28 degrees Celsius while minimum temperatures would range from 13 to 14 degrees Celsius," said a weather official.

On Tuesday, Mumbai's overall air quality was 209, which was classified as 'poor'. However, of the 10 stations where the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) monitors Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai, five had recorded 'very poor' air quality on Tuesday.

The area with 'very poor' air quality and high levels of PM 2.5 on Tuesday were Mazgaon, Andheri and BandraKurla Complex (BKC). In the morning, the PM2.5 level exceeded 421. While at the BKC, it was 304, followed by Andheri at 304.

“As the air quality in some parts of the city gets worse, there are chances of increase in cases of respiratory problems, bronchitis, asthma and stomach ailments. The doctors said because of winter, there is smog across the city and this is the main reason for the increase in such cases,” said a senior doctor from the King Edward Memorial Hospital.