Mumbai weather: Santacruz records 34.6 degrees Celsius as city reels under rising temperatures

Pedestrians shield themselves from the scorching sun in Bandra on March 4. Pic/Atul Kamble

Mumbai sizzled on Friday, with temperatures recorded by the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Santacruz observatory soaring to 34.6 degrees C - 1.6 degrees C above normal, while humidity was at 40 per cent and wind speed was low, at 13 to 16kmph.

This week saw an intense heatwave in Mumbai, as the city recorded its highest March temperature this season on Wednesday, with the Santacruz observatory logging maximum temperatures of 38.9 degrees C.

The IMD has predicted dry weather on Saturday, offering some respite from the heat (green alert), but the city is likely to experience hot and humid weather again on Sunday and Monday. The IMD has forecast a dry Saturday for Palghar and Thane, and hot and humid weather on Sunday and Monday.

When does IMD issue a heatwave alert?

When the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degrees C for plains, and temperatures are 5 degrees C above normal. For coastal regions, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature reaches 37°C or more.