No respite: Mumbai sweats it out at 35.7° Celsius, 4th highest in a decade for May

With no respite from the sweltering heat, maximum temperatures in south Mumbai shot up to 35.7 degrees Celsius (2.2 degree Celsius above normal) on Thursday, the fourth highest in a decade for May.

With no respite from the sweltering heat, maximum temperatures in south Mumbai shot up to 35.7 degrees Celsius (2.2 degree Celsius above normal) on Thursday, the fourth highest in a decade for May.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures have risen by a degree as compared to Wednesday, when temperatures were recorded at 34.6 degrees Celsius.

There was slight respite from the sun on Thursday as the sky was partly cloudy. “Owing to the cloudiness across the city, the temperatures are bound to increase and conditions are going to be warmer,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, IMD.

Maximum temperatures increased in the suburbs on Thursday as well to 35.3 degrees Celsius, 1.9 degree Celsius above normal as compared to Wednesday’s 33.8 degrees Celsius.

The highest recorded maximum temperature for May was 41 degrees Celsius on May 12, 1979. The second and third highest maximum temperatures were recorded on May 10, 2010, and May 20, 2014, at 37 degrees Celsius and 35.8 degrees Celsius respectively.

However, the humidity levels, which saw saw a drop, offered some respite to the city. Colaba and Santacruz recorded 70% and 67% relative humidity on Thursday.