Monsoon withdraws from city, cooler nights expected

With a significant drop in humidity levels and the cessation of thundershowers in the last three days, the monsoon seems to have withdrawn from the city. Nikhil M Ghanekar reports.

With a significant drop in humidity levels and the cessation of thundershowers in the last three days, the monsoon seems to have withdrawn from the city.

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"The northerly winds have caused a significant drop in humidity levels and have increased the temperature. We can officially say the monsoon has withdrawn from the city," said VK Rajeev, director, India Meteorological Department (IMD), western region.

On Friday, the maximum temperature in Colaba was 33.7 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature was 24.5 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature in Santacruz was 33.9 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature was 21.7 degree Celsius. While the humidity in Colaba was 60%, in Santacruz, it was 56%.

The IMD analyses dry weather, lack of rainfall and hot winds blowing from the north, before declaring the withdrawal of monsoon. "Once the average humidity level drops to 60%, it signifies the departure of the southwest monsoon," said NY Apte, deputy director-general, IMD, western region.

The southwest monsoon withdrawal line currently passes over Alibaug, Pune and Nanded, and is expected towards the Konkan region, in the coming days, said weather officials.

Weathermen have said that Mumbaiites can expect cooler nights now as cloud cover will be absent. However, they have not ruled out chances of minor showers in the coming days.

The upper air cyclonic circulation over the west coast and localised heating were responsible for the thundershowers the city witnessed over the last two weeks.