A steamy heatwave has gripped several parts of Maharashtra, including the capital Mumbai and adjoining districts, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert in three districts. An orange alert has been issued for Palghar, Thane and Mumbai, indicating a “severe heat warning”, while Raigad has been put on a yellow alert.
The warning comes just a day after Mumbai experienced a heatwave – the second in less than a week, according to a Hindustan Times report – with temperatures reaching a blistering 42.5 degrees Celsius on Monday.
The IMD issues a ‘heat wave’ warning when the maximum temperature rises by more than 6 degrees Celsius above normal, while a deviation of 6.4 degrees Celsius or more above normal is classified as a severe heat wave.
In its bulletin on Tuesday, the regional meteorological center said “severe heat waves are very likely to prevail in isolated pockets in North Konkan districts”.
What is the weather forecast for tomorrow?
The meteorological agency has put Palghar, Thane, Raigad and Mumbai under yellow alert for tomorrow, March 11.
“The rise in temperatures is attributed to the anti-cyclonic circulation in the Arabian Sea near south Gujarat and adjoining areas including Mumbai and easterly winds which cause the sea breeze to set in late,” Sushma Nair, Senior Scientist, IMD Mumbai, told HT. “It will probably be quiet from Tuesday evening.
Weather data released on Monday showed temperatures in several parts of the region soared to 40C under clear, sunny skies. After factoring in the humidity, the weather’s heat index was even more severe. Local weather stations also recorded some of the highest early March temperatures in recent years, while many residents complained of fatigue and intense heat in the afternoon.
The Santacruz weather station recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4 degrees Celsius on Monday, which was six degrees above the seasonal average. Meanwhile, Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 35.9 degrees Celsius, about 4.8 degrees above normal.
Maximum temperatures were also elevated in other parts of the city. Vidyavihar recorded 39.3°C, followed by 39.1°C in Dahisar, 38.9°C in Chembur, 37.9°C in Bandra and 36.2°C in Byculla.
Minimum temperatures were also higher than usual. Santacruz reported a low of 21.3°C while Colaba recorded 24°C, both 1.8 degrees above normal.
“As temperatures rise and humidity rises, we request citizens to take all necessary precautions,” a senior official from the regional meteorological center IMD told NDTV. “This heat wave is significant because it arrived early in the season and could continue into the middle of the week.”
