Monsoon gone, the heat is on

The October heat is back and Mumbaikars are sweating it out again.

Following the retreat of the southwest monsoon, the city experienced the October heat on Sunday with maximum temperature rising up to 35.5 degree Celsius and low humidity adding to the discomfort.

On Sunday, the Colaba and Santa Cruz weather stations recorded 35.0 and 35.5 degree Celsius maximum temperature respectively. The maximum temperature recorded at both the stations was 2.2 and 2.1 degree Celsius above normal, and the humidity level recorded were as low as 58% at Colaba and 48% at Santa Cruz.

The officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the rise in temperature to the withdrawal of the monsoon.

“As the monsoon has withdrawn, the northwesterly winds from land block are coming towards the city with no moisture and no cloudiness. So, the daytime temperature is bound to increase but the humidity levels will reduce,” said an IMD official.

This is a normal phenomenon in October, the IMD official said, adding: “The humidity level will go up only in the morning due to the sea breeze during night. With the rise in temperature and lowering humidity levels, the discomfort level will increase.”

The IMD had announced the withdrawal of southwest monsoon from the city and most parts of the state on October 12.