Mumbai records lowest maximum temperatures in a decade

Mumbaikars continue to enjoy the extended winters, with the city on Friday reporting the lowest maximum temperatures in a decade. Santacruz recorded 24.2 degree Celsius. Weather forecasters have predicted that the temperatures can see a further dip on Saturday.

While Thursday saw maximum temperature being recorded as 27.3 degree Celsius and the minimum was 17.6 degree Celsius, Friday saw both the minimum temperatures dropping to 14.4 degree Celsius while the maximum temperature recorded was 24.2 degree Celsius.

As per IMD officials, this was due to the strong cool northerly winds from the northern part of India that brought the temperatures down. "There was strong cold breeze right throughout the day that made the weather even colder and we expect this to continue," said an IMD official. Meanwhile private weather forecasters said that while it was likely that Saturday could create another record for this winter season as minimum temperatures are likely to drop even further to 12 or 13 degree Celsius, the city will be gripped by warm climate from Monday.

Rajesh Kapadia who also runs the popular weather blog Vagaries of Weather said that Friday was quite cold and incidentally the maximum temperature of Mumbai was lower than that of the popular hill station of Mahabaleshwar that was reported to be 26.1 degree Celsius.

"Last week was quite warmer with maximum temperatures going upto 35 degree Celsius on February 4 and then dropping by almost 10 degree Celsius in a span of just four days," said Kapadia adding that are per their predictions from Monday the city can again expect warmer days with both maximum and minimum temperatures likely to see a rise and while days can be around 33 to 34 degree Celsius the night temperatures too would rise to 19 to 20 degree Celsius.

FEELING THE CHILL

• The lowest minimum temperatures recorded in Mumbai this winter was on December 27 when the mercury dropped to 12.4 degree Celsius. 
   
• Minimum temperatures likely to drop even further to 12 or 13 degree Celsius, and city will be gripped by warm climate from Monday.