Mumbai experienced a significant drop in temperature on Monday, with the minimum temperature plunging to 13.7°C, marking the city’s coldest December day in nine years. This was a sharp contrast to the sweltering 37.3°C recorded just last Wednesday, the hottest December day since 2008.
Highlights of the Cold Spell:
- Current Temperature: The Santacruz weather station recorded 13.7°C, which is 5.6°C below normal for this time of year. The Colaba observatory, closer to the coast, recorded a relatively milder 19.2°C.
- Historical Context: The last time December temperatures dropped this low in Mumbai was in 2015, when the city experienced a minimum of 11.4°C on December 24.
- Weather Trends: In the past decade, the second-lowest December temperature occurred in 2018 at 14.4°C.
Forecast for the Week:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts the current cold spell to persist:
- Minimum Temperatures: Likely to stay below 17°C until Wednesday, before rising slightly to between 19°C and 21°C later in the week.
- Daytime Temperatures: Expected to remain stable between 31°C and 32°C through Saturday.
Weather Experts’ Analysis:
The sudden drop in temperature has been attributed to the dissipating effects of Cyclone Fengal and the influence of easterly winds. This transition has brought a chill to the city after days of above-average heat.
The stark contrast between Mumbai’s recent hottest and coldest December days reflects the city’s dynamic weather patterns, influenced by both local and regional climatic factors.
