Temperatures dip in city as winter sets in

A normally sultry city awoke to a chilly morning on Saturday, with temperatures dipping to 16 degree Celsius in the suburbs - two degrees below normal and the lowest recorded temperature this season. Snehal Rebello reports.

A normally sultry city awoke to a chilly morning on Saturday, with temperatures dipping to 16 degree Celsius in the suburbs - two degrees below normal and the lowest recorded temperature this season.

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In Colaba, it was three degrees warmer, at 19 degree Celsius. The average minimum temperature in mid-December is 18 degree Celsius.

Weathermen have predicted a minimum temperature of about 17 degree Celsius on Sunday, with maximum temperatures at about 28 degree Celsius for the next two days.

RV Sharma, deputy director general (western region) of the India Meteorological Department, said the comparatively low temperatures were a result of the cold spell in northern India, where the mercury is at 7 degree Celsius.

"The resulting flow of strong cold winds from those regions is responsible for the dip in temperature in Mumbai. Temperatures are expected to fall further," he said.

Meanwhile, as Mumbai's winter sets in, expect a resurgence of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sore throat, coughs and colds, said Dr GS Sainani, director of medicine at Jaslok Hospital.

(With inputs from Sonal Shukla)