Blowing Hot and Cold

Fire & ice weather has city in tizzy

Mercury Level Sees Difference Of Over 21° C In 24 Hours

Pratibha Masand adapted from Times News Network 15^th March 2012

Mumbai: Those who woke up in the wee hours of Wednesday may have felt a slight chill in the air. However, Mumbaikar’s travelling in the afternoon could feel the heat. Within the span of about eight hours, the mercury level saw a difference of more than 21 degrees on Wednesday.

This is the result of biomass burning in slums, feel residents of New Link Road Residents Forum, who are fighting for the removal of all slum-encroachments on Mangroves.

    The minimum temperature recorded at Santa Cruz was 16.2 degrees Celsius, while the daytime temperature rose to 37.5 degrees Celsius—marking a difference of 21.3 degrees—on Wednesday. A difference above 15 degrees within a day can affect the body, say experts. The maximum temperature in Santa Cruz was four degrees above normal, while the minimum was four degrees below normal. The minimum temperature recorded by Colaba was 20.9 degrees, while the maximum was 35.5 degrees. The weather department blames winds hitting the city for the fluctuations.
    “Direction of the winds can influence the temperature in the city,” said V K Rajeev, director (weather forecast) of the Indian Meteorological Department. “Sea breeze helps in controlling the rising temperature. Every day it sets in early. Since these winds are cooler, they keep the temperature in check. On Wednesday, the sea breeze did not set in till noon, by which time, the temperatures had risen to maximum,” he added. The moisture, says the weather department, can help reduce the temperature. But the humidity levels too, have been quite low. The morning relative humidity recorded by Colaba and Santa Cruz were 53% and 28%. The evening humidity levels were even lower with Colaba recording 39% and Santa Cruz recording 22%.
    For the next two days, it is likely to be warmer, says the weather bureau. “The minimum temperatures may rise by a degree. The northerly winds will continue to hit the city, but they won’t reduce the heat,” said Rajeev.

This is the result of biomass burning in slums, feel residents of New Link Road Residents Forum, who are fighting for the removal of all slum-encroachments on Mangroves.