MUMBAI: The city on Wednesday saw a sharp drop in day-time temperatures, with the observatory at the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Santacruz station recording a maximum of 34.2°C, nearly 6°C lower than the previous day, when temperatures had soared to the 40°C mark.Data from automatic weather stations across the city also reflected slightly lower temperatures, though some eastern suburbs remained warmer. The highest maximum was recorded at Vikhroli (36.9°C), followed by Ram Mandir (36.2°C), Vidyavihar (34.5°C), Byculla (34.1°C), Tata Power Chembur (33.4°C), and Dahisar (33°C).The IMD Santacruz observatory recorded maximum temperatures of 34.2 deg C, which was 1.8 deg C above normal, while the IMD Colaba observatory recorded 34 deg C, which was 2.9 deg C above normal. Just a day ago, the maximum temperatures recorded by the IMD Colaba and Santacruz observatories were 35.4 deg C and 40 deg C, respectively, which were 4.3 deg C and 7.6 deg C above normal.IMD scientist Sushma Nair said the drop in temperatures was due to the early onset of the sea breeze and weaker easterly winds compared to the past two days. “The anticyclone that had persisted over south Gujarat for a prolonged period has also shifted,” Nair said. In its forecast early on Wednesday, the IMD stated that hot and humid weather conditions would persist, while for the remaining days of the week, dry conditions are expected to continue.This year, within the first ten days of March 2026, the weather bureau has issued three heatwave warnings for Mumbai, after the first alert was sounded on March 5. A heatwave warning was issued again on March 9 and 10. IMD issues a heatwave warning when the temperature of any coastal station touches 37°C or more, and at least two stations record departure from normal of at least 4.5°.Meanwhile, on Wednesday, minimum temperatures recorded by the IMD Colaba and Santacruz observatories were 24.4 °C and 23 deg C, respectively, which were 2.2 deg Cand 2.9 deg C above normal.
