Mumbai experiences one of its warmest Januarys, with temperatures set to rise further this weekend | Representational Image
Mumbai: The extremes in the weather—the cool mornings and sizzling hot afternoons—have been taking a toll on Mumbaikars’ health lately. Since the new year commenced, Mumbai has been consistently witnessing above-normal temperatures, marking January 2025 so far as one of the warmest January months the island city has experienced. The maximum temperature in Mumbai on Monday was around 35 degrees Celsius and the pattern is predicted to continue this week.
On Monday, January 20, the maximum temperature at the Santacruz observatory was 35 degrees Celsius and the minimum was 19 degrees Celsius, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) weather report. While IMD Mumbai forecasts the maximum temperature to rise 36 degrees Celsius by Saturday, January 25.
If the mercury reaches 36 degrees Celsius, Saturday would be the hottest January day recorded in Mumbai since 2016, for the second time this year. On January 3 too Mumbai had sizzled at 36 degrees Celsius. The all-time-ever-highest maximum January temperature recorded in Mumbai was on January 16, 2006.
Taking a look at the warmer days the city has been consistently witnessing lately, on January 19, the maximum temperature recorded at Santacruz Observatory was 34.3 degrees Celsius, which was 3.4 degrees Celsius above normal and the minimum temperature was 17 degrees Celsius.
While, the Colaba Observatory recorded the maximum temperature at 33 degrees Celsius, which was 2.9 degrees above normal and the minimum temperature at 21.6 degrees Celsius, which was 2.5 degrees above normal.
While on January 15, the maximum temperature recorded at Santacruz observatory was 35.4 degrees Celsius, which was 4.2 degrees Celsius above normal, and the minimum temperature recorded was 20.3 degrees Celsius, which was 3.3 degrees above normal. It also marked one of the hottest January days in Mumbai.
As per IMD’s Santacruz observatory’s weekly weather forecast (January 20 to 26), the minimum temperature will range between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature will range between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius. The skies will partly remain cloudy with haze for the next two days, turning to clear skies later in the week.
Speaking on the wide gap in the minimum and maximum temperature in the city, IMD Mumbai Director Sunil Kamble said, “The fluctuations are because of changes in the wind patterns. The city has the effect of northernly winds in the morning and easterly winds in the afternoon.”
With the fluctuating temperatures, vulnerable populations, especially children, senior citizens and people suffering from breathing problems need to take care of their health and avoid direct exposure outdoors, Kamble said.
Highest maximum January month temperature recorded at Mumbai’s Santacruz Observatory
Along with fluctuating mercury, Mumbaikars have also been exposed to smoggy skies and bad air quality since last month. With the increased winds, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Mumbai has improved from ‘Poor’ category to ‘Moderate’. The overall AQI in Mumbai on Monday continued to stay under ‘Moderate’ category, with Deonar recording the Poorest AQI at 266. As per Central Pollution Control Board recording, some of the areas with poorer AQI on Monday were: Byculla 183, Sion 182, Colaba-Navy Nagar 158, Malad West 154, Borivali East 134 and Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl. Airport (T2) 153.
