Mumbai Chills with Month's Coldest Morning at 15.9°C
Mumbai shivered through its coldest morning of the month on Monday. The minimum temperature in the suburbs plunged to 15.9 degrees Celsius. This marked a significant drop from recent days.
The India Meteorological Department reported the readings. The suburban Santacruz observatory recorded 15.9°C. Meanwhile, the Colaba coastal station in the island city logged 19°C.
Cool Spell to Persist with Gradual Changes
IMD scientists expect the cold spell to continue for the next couple of days. After that, both day and night temperatures should rise gradually. This rise will likely occur between January 21 and 22.
Minimum temperatures will probably stay between 17 and 18 degrees Celsius over the next few days. Another dip is forecast from January 24. Nighttime temperatures may hover around 17°C then. Daytime highs should remain below 30°C.
Meteorologists explain the temperature drop. They attribute it to northerly winds bringing cool, dry air into the region.
Historical Context and Recent Trends
Mumbai's coldest January temperature ever occurred in 1962. It dropped to 7.1°C. The warmest day in January happened in 2006, reaching 37.4°C.
Sunday afternoon saw a notable decline in daytime temperatures too. The suburbs recorded a maximum of 27.5°C. That is 3.4 degrees below the normal level. Colaba station recorded 28°C, which is 2.1 degrees below normal.
Air Quality Shows Improvement
Despite the chill, Mumbai's air quality improved significantly on Monday. Data from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board revealed this change. The overall Air Quality Index touched 82.
This marks an improvement from recent weeks. The city's AQI had consistently stayed in the moderate range of 100-200. Now, at least 19 out of 23 active monitoring stations recorded 'satisfactory' AQI under 100.
Powai recorded the best AQI at 47. Bandra East observed the worst AQI at 109. Borivali East in the western suburbs followed with 104.
Weather Outlook for Coming Days
IMD scientists forecast partly cloudy skies and haze over the next week. This may affect visibility in the city. The cool conditions will persist with minor fluctuations.
Residents should prepare for continued chilly mornings. The temperature pattern shows slight warmth mid-week before cooling again. Air quality remains a point to watch despite recent gains.
