Mumbai Cross 35 Degree Mark- First Of This Season: Warm Days Ahead
Key Takeaways:
- Mumbai has recorded the first 35°C of the season after more than 100 days.
- Day and night temperatures are running over 3°C above normal, increasing discomfort.
- Delayed sea breeze onset is the primary reason for the early temperature spike.
- Sultry conditions are expected to persist through the week and possibly into early next week.
The coastal city of Mumbai is warming up in preparation for the rising temperatures of the spring season. The airport observatory at Santacruz has recorded the first 35°C of this season after a gap of over 100 days. The city last recorded a temperature of 35.3°C on October 24, 2025, after which the mercury remained suppressed due to a wintry flavour. The minimum temperature today, at 20.5°C, was also higher than normal. Both day and night temperatures were above average by over 3°C. Similar conditions may prevail during this week, raising sultry conditions in the afternoon hours.
The passage of western disturbances across the northern mountains has displaced the seasonal anticyclone from the Rajasthan region. The wind pattern has changed to easterly for a longer duration along the Konkan Coast. Though there is a drop in humidity levels in the morning, the heat is catching up faster during the forenoon and afternoon hours.
Mumbai witnesses a rise in mercury levels more prominently in the second half of February. The city has invariably exceeded the 37°C mark in February, but this mostly happens in the last 10 days of the month. Last year, the Santacruz observatory reached 38°C in the last week of February. February 2022 was an exception when the highest maximum remained restricted to 34.8°C on February 12, 2022. The observatory has breached the 38°C mark in about half of the years over the last decade. The highest ever maximum temperature in February was 39.6°C, recorded on February 25, 1966.
Mumbai’s temperature is largely controlled by the timing of the onset of sea breeze. In February, whenever the sea breeze is delayed beyond 1:30 p.m., the temperature shoots above 35°C. Yesterday, the sea breeze set in past 2:30 p.m., and therefore the mercury breached the 35°C mark very early in the season. Being a coastal station, humidity levels generally remain above 40% in the forenoon and exceed 50% after the onset of sea breeze. The combination of heat and humidity is uncomfortable and affects the comfort index. The city is likely to observe such conditions during this week and they may even spill over into the start of next week.
