Thursday was hottest May day in five yrs Mumbai:
With the mercury soaring to 37.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday,
the city recorded its highest temperature for the month of May
in the last five years. While the maximum temperature had reached a high right at the start of the month (37 degrees Celsius on May 1 and 9), the average temperatures have otherwise been hovering around 34-35 degrees Celsius, officials of the meteorology department said. According to past records, maximum temperatures in May have always stayed around 35 degrees Celsius. However, the maximum temperature this season had already reached 38 degrees Celsius in the month of March. Even though Mumbai experienced some breeze on Thursday, Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 37.3 degrees Celsius with 70% relative humidity, while Santa Cruz recorded a much lower 35 degrees Celsius also with 70% humidity. Last week’s temperature chart shows that the maximum temperatures have been increasing steadily. With such weather conditions, Mumbaikars can only cross their fingers and pray for some showers. “Even though there are light clouds, the high temperatures and moisture are supposed to be converting into rain. However, with the clouds disappearing due to the heat, there’s seems to be no respite on the cards,’’ said Dr R V Sharma, deputy director general of meteorological department, Mumbai, adding that the general direction of the wind is still north westerly. However, if the IMD forecast is to be believed, Mumbaikars will not have to wait too long for respite from the ever-rising heat. While the normal date of the arrival of monsoon in Mumbai is June 10, IMD officials say that monsoon may arrive two days early this time. “We are expecting the monsoon to hit Kerala by May 30,’’ said Sharma. While the normal date for the monsoon to hit Kerala is June 1, the two-day early arrival may have a chain effect on the other states too, says the bureau. |