Mumbai records second-highest February day temperature in 8 years, as heatwave tightens grip

A day after recording its highest February temperature since 2017, Mumbai recorded its second-highest in the past eight years on Wednesday. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Santacruz Observatory registered a scorching 38.5°C on Wednesday, soaring 5.7°C above the seasonal norm.

Just a day before, the mercury hit 38.7°C, which was the highest February temperature recorded in the city in nearly a decade. Meanwhile, on Wednesday the Colaba Observatory, which monitors coastal temperatures, noted a high of 35.3°C, exceeding the average by 4.3°C.

The unrelenting heat began to make its mark earlier this week, with February 24 recording Mumbai’s highest February temperature in five years—38.4°C.

In response to the unusual temperatures, IMD had issued a heatwave warning for Mumbai for February 25 and 26. While the city is no stranger to rising temperatures, this sudden, intense heat is atypical for February, a month usually marked by pleasant weather and sea breezes.

While temperatures are expected to dip slightly by a degree or two over the weekend, the respite will likely be short-lived. IMD officials suggest that humid conditions will persist, and the ongoing rise in temperatures is due to strong Easterlies disrupting the usual sea breeze, delaying its cooling effect on the city.