At 37 deg C, hottest May day in city in 5 years

The city’s maximum temperature on Monday touched 37 degree Celsius, making it the hottest day in May in the past five years and the third hottest day this summer.

The city’s maximum temperature on Monday touched 37 degree Celsius, making it the hottest day in May in the past five years and the third hottest day this summer.

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While Santacruz reported a maximum temperature of 37 deg C, Colaba was a tad cooler at 35.2 deg C.

Until now, the hottest day recorded this season was March 22 when the mercury touched 38 deg C, followed by April 8 at 37.8 deg C.

The month of May typically does not see such high temperatures, and the highest in May between 2005 and 2009 was 35.9 deg C last year.

What’s made it worse for Mumbaiites is that humidity in the city is also at its peak — the average humidity recorded on Monday was 94 per cent.

Both the heat and the humidity are likely to get worse till the end of the month.

“This is expected in May. The next few weeks could be hotter,” said R.V. Sharma, deputy director, (western region), India Meteorological Department (IMD).

You can console yourself with the knowledge that the rising mercury is important for a good monsoon. “Rising temperature is one of the crucial ingredients for a good monsoon,” said Sharma.

The country’s rain deficit last monsoon has affected water levels and agricultural output, and a good monsoon is critical.

Last year, Mumbai recorded a rainfall deficit of about 900 mm.

The city is already coping with water cuts and the water levels of the six lakes that supply water to it are fast depleting. Last month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation found that the stock of supply at Tansa and Modak Sagar, the two biggest lakes, were 10 feet and 42 feet respectively below the mark compared to the same period last year.