City to feel the chill in next few days

Get ready for a cooler weekend. The weather bureau has predicted a drop in the minimum temperatures in the next few days; Nikhil M Ghanekar reports.

Get ready for a cooler weekend. The weather bureau has predicted a drop in the minimum temperatures in the next few days.

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After the city enjoyed a pleasant 14.6 degree Celsius on November 19 — the second coldest day in the month in a decade — temperatures have steadily climbed back to normal because of the absence of a western disturbance.

Western disturbances refer to a series of storms that carry cold moisture laden winds in the upper atmosphere from Afghanistan towards Jammu and Kashmir. These cold winds cause snowfall and causes dry and cold northerly winds to blow towards the city.

“The weather has been normal over the past few days as warm easterly and south easterly winds have caused the temperatures to increase. Our forecast model shows that an approaching western disturbance may cause snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and rainfall in other northern states. This will make the weather cooler in the city,” said VK Rajeev, director, western region, India Meteorological Department (IMD).

According to independent experts, since wind patterns are dynamic, several fluctuations are seen and the cooler conditions usually do not prevail for more than three to four days. “Although western disturbances creates cold weather conditions in northern states of the country, conditions such as a high-pressure system are also necessary for cold northerly winds to prevail in the city. Besides, the city’s coastal location also influences the local temperature due to clouding,” said Professor FN Karnekar, head, geography department, SP College, Pune.

On Wednesday, partial clouding reduced the maximum temperature. In Colaba, the it was 30.4 degree Celsius, which was two degrees below normal, and in Santacruz it was 33 degree Celsius.