Stories
Mumbai Heats Up Like A Furnace In October As IMD Issues Heatwave Alert
- •Temperatures in Mumbai have been reaching around 38 degrees Celsius over the last three days, creating intense heatwave conditions.
- •IMD Director Bikram Singh stated that for coastal stations, a temperature of 37 degrees with a 4.5-degree deviation from normal qualifies as a heatwave.
- •Very little rainfall in September and zero rainfall in October have prevented temperatures from dropping significantly.
- •Stronger easterly winds and the absence of northerly lower-level winds are preventing sea breezes and maintaining dryness.
- •Post-monsoon and October forecasts had already indicated higher temperatures and low rainfall due to El Nino conditions.
Key Questions Answered
According to IMD Director Bikram Singh, the criterion for a coastal heatwave is when the temperature at a coastal station reaches 37 degrees Celsius and the difference from normal is 4.5 degrees or more. This condition has persisted for three consecutive days, particularly in Santacruz.
Temperatures are staying high because September experienced very little rainfall and October has seen no rainfall, preventing continuous temperature drops. Additionally, lower-level easterly or southeasterly winds are preventing sea breezes from setting in and keeping conditions dry.
In coastal areas, heatwave conditions are triggered when temperatures reach 37 degrees Celsius with a 4.5-degree deviation from normal. In contrast, interior Maharashtra requires a maximum temperature of at least 40 degrees Celsius along with a 4.5-degree or higher difference from normal to qualify as a heatwave.
