Expect to be hot and bothered for rest of the week

Late onset of warm sea breeze causing rise in heat, humidity, say weather-watchers

Rising heat and humidity will be the two constants in the otherwise uncertainty-filled existence of Mumbaikars over the next four days. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a gradual rise in both, the humidity levels and maximum temperatures for the rest of the week.

On Tuesday afternoon, humidity levels in the island city crossed 90 per cent and soared to 69 per cent in the suburbs. Humidity has increased due to the anti-cyclone system pushing warm winds from the sea towards the land, said an IMD official.

KS Hosalikar, deputy director general (western region), IMD, said, Tuesday was a very humid day in Mumbai. Though northwesterly gusty winds prevailed at Colaba, the minimum humidity recorded in the afternoon was around 80 per cent and maximum humidity in the evening was over 90 per cent plus. Meanwhile, the maximum temperatures recorded were also above normal. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature recorded at both, the Colaba and Santacruz observatories, was 34 degrees, while on Sunday, it was 36 degrees Celsius. In May, maximum temperatures in the city have crossed the 36-degree Celsius mark only on two occasions in 2016 (36.1 degrees Celsius) and 2010 (37 degrees Celsius).

The city is likely to be partly cloudy, with a sea breeze setting in after noon. It's this late onset of the sea breeze which has caused a spike in temperatures and heat, along with high humidity, said Rajesh Kapadia from Mahalaxmi, who runs the popular weather blog, Vagaries of the Weather. Meanwhile, minimum temperatures at the Colaba and Santacruz observatories were 27 degrees and 26.8 degrees respectively.

Shweta Singh, a resident of Navy Nagar, said the soaring temperatures set in early in the morning. The humidity level is so high that it is difficult to stay indoors. On Tuesday too, it started to get very hot and uncomfortable well before noon, said Singh.