At 15.7°C, Saturday was the coldest day this winter: IMD

City to stay cool over next two to three days

The city awoke to cool winds on Saturday — the coldest day yet this winter — with air quality in the ‘poor’ category.

Vendors selling winter garments near CST wait for customers. (Arijit Sen/HT)

The minimum temperature in the suburbs dropped three degrees below normal to 15.7 degrees Celsius, and stayed normal in south Mumbai at 21.6 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperatures dipped to one degree below normal, with south Mumbai at 30.8 degrees Celsius and suburbs at 31.4 degrees Celsius.

“Winds that were easterly till Friday, have become north easterly and northerly. There is also an induced upper air cyclonic circulation from the western disturbance in the northwest parts of the country affecting Rajasthan and Punjab. Both factors have brought down minimum temperatures over Mumbai,” said VK Rajeev, director, western region, India Meteorological Department (IMD).

He said this weather pattern will continue for the next two to three days.

Saturday’s temperatures over the city were quite a departure from Friday with minimum temperatures at 17 degree Celsius at Santacruz and 22 degrees Celsius at Colaba, while maximum temperatures at both weather stations were 33.5 degrees Celsius and 34.5 degree Celsius.

With temperatures below normal levels, Mumbai recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 233, as per the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

An AQI between 100 and 200 falls in the moderate category, 200 to 300 ‘poor’, and 300 to 400 ‘very poor’.

A maximum number of locations – Bhandup, Borivli, Worli, Malad – recorded ‘moderate’ air. Of the remaining six locations, residents of Andheri, BKC and Navi Mumbai breathed ‘very poor’ quality air.

Those in Chembur, Malad and Colaba were exposed to ‘poor’ air.

Pollution levels in the city will continue to be ‘poor’ with SAFAR’s forecasting an AQI of 236 on Sunday.

The IMD has forecast clear skies on Sunday with maximum temperature at 33 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature at 16 degrees Celsius.

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