Mumbai: 'Temperature could soar to 40 in parts of Maharashtra in March'

Mumbai Thane and other parts of Maharashtra are likely to experience summerlike scorching temperatures for the next few days according to meteorologists An India Meteorological Department IMD official said ldquoThis is the transition period from winter to summer There may be numerous temperature increases during this timerdquoThe official added ldquoThe highest February temperatures have been in the past decade I believe the second fortnight of February frequently records temperatures as high as 38 and 39 degrees Celsius respectivelyrdquo The city on Monday recorded this seasonrsquos hottest day which was 62 degrees Celsius above averageThe suburbrsquos Santacruz weather station recorded daytime or maximum temperature at 373 degrees Celsius while the Colaba station recorded a maximum temperature of 371 degrees Celsiusmdash71 degrees Celsius above normal Warm winds from the eastern and southeastern parts of the country are prevailing over the city and the lack of sea breeze during the daytime has been keeping temperatures above the 35 degrees Celsius markA youth attempts to beat the heat at the Gateway of India on February 3 File PicPradeep DhivarDue to the prevailing strong southeasterly winds from the land region and low humidity values temperatures are expected to rise Explaining the phenomenon in detail Rajesh Kapadia of Vagaries of the Weather the popular private weather blog said the typical dry summerlike heat which is witnessed in Mumbai and Konkan during late Februaryearly March is being witnessed nowKapadia said ldquoCurrently the weather feels like that which we experience in March in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra It is almost 15 days early though This is because of the presence of La Nina a weather pattern that brings warmerthannormal seasurface temperaturesrdquoAlso Read Delhis overall air quality slips into very poor categoryHe added ldquoBecause of the presence of east winds which prevent sea breeze from coming in the temperature is rising Sea breeze cools down Mumbai and adjoining areas However once the east wind stops in the evening the weather gets cooler Hence one can see the gap in daytime and nighttime temperatures While Colaba and Santacruz recorded maximum temperatures of 371 and 373 degrees Celsius on Monday the minimum temperature on Tuesday morning was a pleasant 212 and 19 degrees Celsius in Colaba and Santacruz The comfort level was not bad as the humidity was relatively lesser but there was dry or scorching heatrdquo As per the Vagaries of the Weather not only Mumbai and Maharashtra are witnessing high temperatures but also central and northern IndiaAlltime highsOn February 17 2020 Santacruz observatory recorded a temperature of 381 degrees Celsius On February 23 2015 the city recorded a temperature of 388 degrees Celsius The highest of the decade however was recorded on February 22 2012 at 391 degrees Celsius and the alltime highmdasha blazing 396 degrees Celsiusmdashwas recorded on February 25 1966Maharashtra faces heatTemperatures have been rising sharply over many parts of Maharashtra and things are heating up predict meteorologists ldquoThe rise in the mercury level is more conspicuous over the eastern half of the state spanning Vidarbha and Marathwada The entire state is confronting a double whammy of dismal rains and mounting heat during the ongoing season The fear is that the damaging combination of soaring heat and dwindling moisture may impact the wheat crop adversely Blame it on climate change the entire state may have twofold setbacks on account of agricultural and hydrological scarcityrdquo said a meteorologist from Skymet Weather a private forecasting agencyldquoHeat potential is likely to build up in the coming days The month of March is expected to see dry days with the surface temperature soaring and nearing 40 degrees or even beyond Day temperature has already exceeded 3536 degrees at many places albeit for a few days Akola Washim Nagpur Wardha Parbhani Jeur Nanded and Solapur have touched their mid and high30s in the past week Heat stress is likely to build up further and may not augur well for the wheat crop across the staterdquo Skymet Weather has predicted on its blog355 degCMaximum temperature recorded in Srsquocruz on Tuesday