Mumbai, gear up for a hotter summer

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a rise in mercury in the coming days.

"Temperatures in not only Mumbai but all across Maharashtra is likely to see a huge spike in the next two days and there can even be heatwave like conditions as we expect several part of Maharashtra to witness temperatures to hover over 40 degree Celsius. Mumbai's temperatures on Sunday and Monday could touch upto 38 degree Celsius as well," said an IMD official.

He further added that the reason for this surge in temperatures would be the fact that the cooler northwesterly winds would be replaced by easterly winds that cause warmer weather. On Saturday, the maximum temperature Mumbai recorded was 33.2 degree Celsius at Santacruz.

Temperatures in March are known to reach all the way upto forties. The highest temperature recorded this season was on March 11, when the maximum temperature recorded was 37.8 degree Celsius. In 2017, the highest maximum temperature recorded in March was 38.4 degree Celsius, while in 2016 it was 38.2 degree Celsius and in 2015 it had reached 40.8 degree Celsius. However the highest maximum temperature ever recorded in March was 41.7 degree Celsius on March 28, 1956.

As per Skymet a private weather forecasting agency most parts of Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada like Chandrapur, Wardha, Akola, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Nanded, Parbhani, and Jalna may witness the daytime high close to 40°C.

"These hot winds are expected to reach parts of Maharashtra in the next 24 hours. The temperatures that are already in higher 30's or close to 40 degree Celsius would take a steep rise. The weather in most parts of Konkan region would see levels rising to settle between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius. Other coastal districts such as Ratnagiri, Bhira and Thane will also experience extremely hot and sultry weather conditions. This would lead to high discomfort level across Konkan," reported the Skymet portal.