Mumbai has been reeling from unexpected cold conditions for the past two days, leading residents to bring out their woollies.
Here’s a look at what’s happening in the financial capital.
On Sunday, the city recorded a temperature of 23.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest maximum temperature this decade. This was 8 degrees Celsius below normal. It is the second instance this month when the city recorded the lowest daytime temperature.
Similarly, the nighttime minimum temperatures have also dipped, sending the mercury down to as low as 14 degrees Celsius.
This morning, the temperatures dipped to 17 degrees Celsius.
Officials in the India Meteorological Department explaining the situation said that the passage of a western disturbance, and an induced cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan were reasons contributing to the weather conditions in the financial capital.
The added that these weather systems will draw moisture from the Arabian Sea and cause widespread, though mild, showers across parts of North and Central India and over parts of the Konkan and Northern Madhya Maharashtra.
IMD official K S Hosalikar on Twitter predicted another cold day in Mumbai on Tuesday.
📢Mumbai;
There could be another very chilled morning tomorrow, 25 Jan, with min temperatures again going very low especially in early morning hrs in the city.
With Day’s max temp staying below 25 for last 2 days, the #Mumbaikars requested to TC
Current temp in the city r below. pic.twitter.com/oHbZYLk7nS
— K S Hosalikar (@Hosalikar_KS) January 24, 2022
Dust storm sweeps across Mumbai
If the cold conditions weren’t enough, Mumbaikars also had to grapple with foggy and hazy conditions on Monday owing to a ‘dust storm’.
Independent meteorologist Akshay Deoras was quoted as saying to Hindustan Times, “A prominent dust event is affecting parts of Maharashtra (including Mumbai-MMR), Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. This dust event has been triggered by a recent western disturbance, which is also causing the ongoing dip in Mumbai’s temperature.”
IMD experts said that a dust storm originating in the Gulf area and Karachi, Pakistan, towards Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat, coupled with warmer temperatures in areas along the Arabian sea including Mumbai has led to sand particles entering and polluting the air.
This dust storm caused air pollution levels to spike; on Monday morning, Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to a whopping 502, as per the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). An AQI of more than 500 indicates ‘severe-plus’ or hazardous pollution levels and can have profound health implications. The air quality is likely to remain ‘severe’ at least till Tuesday.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded a maximum of 500 AQI at the monitoring station at Mazgaon in South Mumbai, followed by Navi Nagar in Colaba and terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The average AQI of all 16 CPCB monitoring stations in Mumbai also stood at a ‘severe’ level of 405 at 11 am on Monday.
In the evening, the suburban area of Malad, recorded the worst AQI at 436. Chembur recorded an AQI of 347, Andheri – 340, Bhandup – 336, Mazgaon – 372, Worli – 319, BKC – 307, Colaba -221, Borivli -162 and Navi Mumbai 101.
Other parts of Maharashtra also affected
Other parts of the Western state also witnessed poor weather conditions. Mahabaleshwar’s maximum temperature was 18.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 8.3 degrees below normal. Likewise, Pune recorded 24.3 degrees Celsius, 6.1 degrees below normal.
#mumbaiwinter trends
And with the temperatures dropping, the issue quickly became a trending topic with netizens going crazy.
One netizen wrote, “Stop making fun of #mumbaiwinter. People who stay either in 40 degrees for 6 months or constant rain for 5 months, are bound to feel cold at 20 degrees.”
Stop making fun of #mumbaiwinter . People who stay either in 40 degrees for 6 months or constant rain for 5 months, are bound to feel cold at 20 degrees.
Bhavnao ko samjho.
— Brahmin (@being_nili) January 24, 2022
Another wrote, “Why is the temperature being a teen in Mumbai? I’m waiting for it to grow up to my age to be friends with it.”
Why is the temperature being a teen in Mumbai? I’m waiting for it to grow up to my age to be friends with it. #mumbaiwinter pic.twitter.com/udrxMK8jKf
— Yes to that (@yeh_kya) January 25, 2022
The dip in temperatures also invited a tonne of memes and the longstanding debate between Delhi and Mumbai.
As on Twitter user posted:
Mumbaikars – *Shivering in cold*
Meanwhile North Indians in Mumbai – #mumbaiwinter pic.twitter.com/HMO7M9bTB1
— Tirthesh Jain (@Tirtheeyysh) January 24, 2022
Another posted:
Every Mumbaikar to North Indians this time, #mumbaiwinter ka mazak udhaana pic.twitter.com/kyUblAm7FJ
— Jyoti J. (@JyotiBaneJwala) January 25, 2022
IMD officials have said that Mumbaikars will get respite from the cold conditions starting after Wednesday. Till then, Twitter is bound to be abuzz.
With inputs from agencies
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