On Monday, the IMD’s Santacruz station recorded a minimum temperature of 13.7 degrees Celsius | Photo Credit: Niranjana KP _12211@Chennai
Mumbai woke up to chilly morning on Monday as the minimum temperature in the city dipped to 13.7 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest December day in nine years. The last time the city recorded such a low was in 2015, when the mercury dropped to 11.4 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
According to IMD, the cold wave will continue for another two to three days with minimum temperatures expected to remain below 20 degrees Celsius. Daytime temperatures are predicted to range between 30 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.
On Monday, the IMD’s Santacruz station recorded a minimum temperature of 13.7 degrees Celsius, 5.6 degrees below normal, marking a sharp drop after days of above-average heat. The Colaba observatory, meanwhile, reported a minimum temperature of 19.2 degrees Celsius.
In the past decade, this is the second-lowest December temperature recorded in Mumbai. The previous low was in 2018, when temperatures fell to 14.4 degrees Celsius.
Explaining the sudden drop in temperatures, T.S. Neeta, a scientist at IMD Mumbai, told The Hindu“The sudden drop in temperature is due to a change in the wind pattern, which is predominantly northerly. These winds are cold and dry, causing the current dip in temperatures.
She said the trend is likely to continue for the next two days. “After that, temperatures are expected to rise as the wind pattern shifts to an easterly direction. We don’t currently have a complete winter-like pattern due to the presence of moisture, and the temperatures will entirely depend on the prevailing wind patterns,” Ms. Neeta added.
Published – December 10, 2024 05:40 am IST
