Rains provide relief from sweltering October

Mumbai: Mumbai continues to reel under the impact of yo-yoing weather. After it was claimed that “October heat” had begun with temperatures rising from 27 degree to 33.5 degree Celsius, Friday witnessed rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms. Mumbai recorded a maximum 34 degree Celsius. The weather department, however, warned that the city was likely to experience a spell or two of rain or thundershowers  for two days.

There were thunderstorms in several parts of Mumbai on Friday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said that such thundershowers were expected to continue over the weekend.

K. Hosalikar, deputy director, IMD, said, “Severe thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely to occur in Raigad district during the next four hours. This will continue for two days.”

On Friday, the Colaba weather station recorded 8mm rainfall between 8.30am and 5.30pm, while the Santacruz weather station recorded 0.7mm during the same period. Hosalikar said, “There will be light to heavy rain in coastal parts of Maharashtra. The interiors will experience light to moderate rains.”

Temperatures in the city  have been soaring as high as 35.8 degree Celsius in the past few days. The city is witnessing October heat at its worst  as temperatures have risen from 27 degree in the last few months to 33.5 degree Celsius, six degrees above normal. Adding to the uneasiness being faced by Mumbaikar, is the high levels of humidity. It has  that has shot up from 80 to 87 per cent.