Mumbai: Even though the city’s maximum temperatures are hovering between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius, there will be no respite for Mumbaikars, as the relative humidity is very high and, to make matters worse, the mercury too will rise from the first week of May.
“While the maximum temperature will be around 34 degrees Celsius, the minimum will rise to around 26 to 27 degrees Celsius, which will make the city even warmer. The hot weather is here to stay,” said Rajesh Kapadia, a private weather forecaster.
On Friday, the Santacruz weather station recorded day temperature of 34.8 degrees Celsius, while Colaba recorded 32.5 degrees Celsius. The night temperature in Colaba was two degrees above normal, at 26.2 degrees Celsius. Santacruz recorded 25.2 degrees Celsius.
However, the relative humidity levels were 94 per cent in Colaba and 71 per cent at Santacruz. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heat wave warning for most of central and northern India in the coming days, with the maximum temperature expected to hover at 45 degrees Celsius.
“Heat wave conditions are likely in some parts of Vidarbha and in isolated pockets over east Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada,” the IMD stated in its advisory on Thursday. KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, IMD, said as per the extended range forecast, which gives an overall view of weather conditions for four weeks, the temperature in Maharashtra and even central India is likely to remain steady.
“We can expect temperatures to rise. In certain places, including Vidarbha, temperatures are around 40 to 41 degrees Celsius, which is normal during this season,” he said. Rising temperatures has left Mumbai commuters fuming and hot under the collar. “If this is the condition in April, we cannot even imagine our condition in the next two months,” shuddered Shweta Singh, a Byculla resident.
However, Mumbaikars know their summer drill, so they are trying to keep themselves hydrated by drinking plenty of water and avoid stepping outdoors, unless it is important. “We are drinking enough water so that we don’t fall ill. We are using a pinch of salt in water and drinking lemon juice to keep our bodies cool,” said Siva Krisnan, a Worli resident.
‘Signal break’ in Akola: Owing to the increase in temperature over the past two days, the Akola traffic department has decided to shut all traffic signals in their area until May 1. “The temperature is increasing day by day and drivers halting at traffic signals have to bear the scorching heat, which leads to problems. So we have decided to shut down all signals until May 1,” the advisory states.
