Mumbai Faces High Temperatures After Heavy Rains, Experts Cite Weakening Westerly Winds

Mumbai, 2nd October 2024: After experiencing heavy rainfall last week, Mumbai faced unusually high temperatures on Tuesday, with above-normal weather conditions reported. Experts attribute the heat to the weakening of westerly winds following the end of the southwest monsoon, causing discomfort for residents.

Typically, westerly winds dominate the city during the monsoon season, helping to maintain lower temperatures. On Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Colaba and Santacruz observatories recorded temperatures of 32.8°C and 33.5°C, respectively, which was nearly one degree above average. This marked a slight increase from September 30, when temperatures were recorded at 32.6°C in Colaba and 32.2°C in Santacruz. Meanwhile, relative humidity stood at 80% in Colaba and 78% in Santacruz. Residents expressed concern that if such conditions are present at the start of October, the remainder of the month could be worse. The official declaration of monsoon withdrawal has yet to be announced.

The four-month monsoon period ended with above-normal rainfall for the city. By September 30, the IMD Colaba observatory recorded 2,641 mm of rain, while the Santacruz observatory recorded 3,089 mm. This was 546.5 mm above the normal level for Colaba and 770.2 mm above normal for Santacruz.