Temperature soars to 36.8 degrees C on Friday, second-hottest day since 2009

The sweltering heat in Mumbai is increasing by the day. After Thursday saw the mercury reach 37 degrees Celsius — the highest temperature since October 30, 2009 — Friday wasn't too far behind either.

The maximum temperature for Santa Cruz was recorded at 36.8 degrees Celsius, while Colaba recorded at a notch lower, at 36.5 degrees Celsius.

The all-time record of the hottest day was set on October 23, 1972, when temperature touched 37.9 degrees Celsius.

And if the high temperature wasn't bad enough, the daytime humidity level on Friday, which loomed at 91% in Colaba, increased Mumbaikars' discomfort. Santa Cruz recorded humidity at 71%.

Weathermen attributed the increasing temperatures and growing October heat to changing wind patterns. "The easterly winds are now flowing from land to sea. It is a typical weather pattern observed in October. The easterly winds are hot. The wind pattern has changed from westerly to easterly," said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general of meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai.

The minimum temperatures in Colaba and Santa Cruz stood at 28 degrees Celsius and 25.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The monsoon withdrew from Mumbai this week. "The monsoon has withdrawn from Maharashtra up to 99%, including the city, and it is just about to recede from the northern tip of the state," said Hosalikar.