It’s too hot, but that’s ‘normal’ in May

The extreme heat coupled with excessive humidity has made summer intolerable for Mumbaikars this May and they are rapidly running out of adjectives to qualify the weather.

On Monday, the maximum temperature recorded at Colaba was 35°C, while the minimum was 28°C. At Santa Cruz, the maximum and minimum temperature was 37°C and 27°C respectively. While Colaba recorded a high of 94% humidity, in Santa Cruz it was 70%.

But according to the Regional Meteorological Centre, Colaba, the temperature and humidity level in the city this month is “normal for this time of the year”.

 “Usually, the temperature in Mumbai hovers between 35°C and 36°C in May,” said Dr RV Sharma, deputy director general, Regional Meteorological Centre.

“This is not the worst summer Mumbai has witnessed. In the past, the temperature in Mumbai has gone up to 39°C and 40.2°C. But the fact is that temperature has been rising steadily since March. Temperatures soared to 37°C in March as well as April. Hence, people are feeling the effect of the prolonged heat this summer,” said Sharma.

The rise in temperature depends on the wind pattern, heat and solar radiation. “As far as Mumbai is concerned, it is the sea breeze that determines the level of heat and rise in temperature. If the sea breeze sets in around 10am, you will get some respite from the heat, but at the same time it will add to the moisture, which increases discomfort,” he explained.

With the summer getting hotter, doctors are urging people to spend minimum time under the sun and to use sun-protection, be it goggles, sunscreen, or hats and caps when they venture out.
In such heat, Mumbaikars just cannot wait to see rains. But there is no news of rains yet. The weather department said that every year, monsoon comes any time between June 8 and June 10 and the exact date of its arrival in Mumbai this year can be predicted only once it hits Adnamans and Kerala.

Usually, the monsoon arrives in the Andamans between May 15 and 20, and it reaches Kerala on June 1. “We will be monitoring the progress of the monsoon and announce the date of its arrival,” said Sharma.