Mumbai Records Warmest January Of Last One Decade, Mercury Unlikely To Drop
Key Takeaways
- Mumbai remains largely unaffected by North India winter systems in January.
- Lowest temperature so far this month is 15.9°C at Santacruz.
- No major cooling expected in the next ten days.
- January 2026 may turn out to be the warmest in a decade.
Mumbai, being a coastal station, enjoys pleasant weather conditions during the peak winters of North India in the month of January. The capital city is also quite low in latitude (19°N) along the northern parts of the Western Ghats in the Konkan region. It is far from the direct impact of any active western disturbance of North India. Weather perturbations are, as such, very few over the southern peninsula in the month of January. There is only a freak chance of any hazardous weather activity in this month. Yes, the degree of “cold” over the city is linked with spells of cold snap over the northern plains during this month. The effect of cold air blowing down the slopes of mountains across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh does have a “domino” effect to cause a dip in Mumbai temperatures, albeit not for long durations.
Mumbai invariably records a minimum of 15°C or less in the month of January. Last year was the exception when the lowest got arrested at 15.2°C, recorded on 07 Jan 2025. Incidentally, this is the highest minimum temperature of the month in the last 10 years. The airport observatory Santacruz has registered the lowest of 15.9°C today morning, the least of record in this month so far. The regional observatory at Colaba has recorded the lowest of this month at 19°C today morning. The temperature is unlikely to drop significantly over the next ten days or so.
There is a weak cyclonic circulation over the Arabian Sea, abeam the Konkan Coast, at a safe distance from Mumbai. No weather activity is expected for the city. However, the wind stream in the lower levels will remain erratic and not conducive for any drop in temperatures. The city, as such, has a regular sea breeze anytime after 12 PM. The changeover to land winds from the northeast direction occurs past midnight.
North India is likely to witness the passage of two western disturbances over the next about one week. The wind stream will get altered over the plains to southeasterly in the lower levels. Therefore, the cold winds are unlikely to reach the Konkan Coast over the next about ten days. Predominantly, sea winds will sweep the Konkan region, including Mumbai, more so in the lower levels, which ultimately controls the temperature profile. Resultantly, the financial capital Mumbai will keep enjoying pleasant mercury levels during night and early morning hours. The temperature over the next three days is likely to remain between 17°–19°C. It is unlikely to drop below 16°C in the remaining days of January. In all likelihood, the month of Jan 2026 may go on record to be the warmest of the last one decade.
