After sweltering under high temperatures over the past two days, Mumbai experienced gusty winds while thunderstorms swept its neighbouring district of Thane Friday evening, in what ushered in a significant drop in temperatures.
However, the region’s spell of cloudy weather has now come to an end with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounding a yellow alert of hot and humid weather in Mumbai for a prolonged period of five days, starting Saturday.
On Friday evening, several pockets of the suburbs in Mumbai experienced gusty winds which led to rise of dust in some areas.
Meanwhile, neighbouring areas like Thane and Dombivli experienced thunderstorms with rains and gusty winds, amid a nowcast warning of thunderstorms alongside lighting and light showers sounded by the IMD at 4.25 pm.
Earlier, the IMD had also upgraded its forecast warning to “yellow alert” in Mumbai and its neighbouring districts.
Sushma Nair, scientist from IMD Mumbai, told The Indian Express that the gusty winds were a result of atmospheric instability.
“The gusty winds occur whenever there is a sudden rise in the wind speed. Whenever there is atmospheric instability, the region experiences thunderstorm activity and it is a very typical characteristic of pre-monsoon season,” said Nair.
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Owing to the cloudy conditions and strong winds in the suburbs, the maximum temperatures dipped to 33.7 degrees in the Santacruz observatory as well as the Colaba coastal observatory. Only two days ago, the temperatures had hovered around 37 degrees.
While the thunderstorm-like conditions brought respite from the heat levels, the IMD has said that the city is in for hot and humid days ahead.
In view of the spike in temperatures, the weather bureau has issued a “yellow alert’ in Mumbai as well as its neighbouring districts of Thane, Palghar and Raigad, starting Saturday.
The yellow alert has been sounded for the next five days until April 8 at least. In its forecast bulletin, the IMD has said that the temperatures may surpass 37 degrees during this period.
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Responding to questions, Nair said that the spike in temperatures will be spurred by the influx of warm, easterly winds.