Residents of Mumbai were greeted by an unexpected and sharp chill in the air on Sunday morning, as the city's mercury level plunged to a season's low. The uncharacteristic cold has left many reaching for their sweaters, even as meteorological officials clarify that the official winter season is still weeks away.
The Meteorological Data
Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed a significant temperature drop. The Santacruz observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 17.8 degrees Celsius, which is a substantial 3.8 degrees below the normal average for this time of year. This reading, taken between 5:30 pm on Saturday and 8:30 am on Sunday, marks the coldest temperature the city has seen this season. In contrast, the Colaba coastal observatory reported a milder minimum of 22.3 degrees Celsius during the same period.
Why is Mumbai So Cold? The IMD Explanation
Despite the shiver-inducing conditions, IMD officials were quick to point out that this is not the onset of winter, which is typically expected to commence in January. Bikram Singh, the director of IMD Mumbai, provided a clear explanation for the current conditions. He attributed the cold spell to a northerly component in the winds.
"At present, northwesterly winds are prevailing," Singh stated. "Since temperatures in the northern states of India are currently low, these winds are carrying colder air down to the central and peninsular regions, including Mumbai." He described this as a typical phenomenon for the period and assured citizens that the situation is temporary.
What to Expect in the Coming Days
The relief from the heat may be short-lived. The IMD has forecast that while minimum temperatures could hover around 16 degrees Celsius over the next 48 hours, a return to normal levels is anticipated within the coming week. "If westerly or easterly winds set in, the temperatures will rise. After three to four days, we are expecting the temperatures to go back to normal," Singh explained.
This recent cold snap follows another notable weather event from earlier in the month. On November 2, Mumbai recorded its coldest November daytime temperature in at least a decade. However, the IMD director clarified that the earlier drop was primarily due to unseasonal rainfall in the region.
A Double-Edged Sword: Chill and Pollution
The drop in temperature, while offering a respite from the usual humid warmth, has unfortunately coincided with a deterioration in air quality. On Sunday, the city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 159, which falls in the 'moderate' category. However, the situation was far worse in specific areas. The air quality in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) breached into the red zone, with an AQI of 323, categorised as 'very poor' and posing health risks to residents.
This interplay of meteorological factors serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between weather patterns and urban environmental health, making the current cold spell a topic of both comfort and concern for Mumbaikars.
