Mumbai and its neighbouring districts of Thane and Palghar are likely to experience heat wave conditions as the India Meteorological Department issued an ‘orange’ alert (severe zone) for this region.
Authorities
urged citizens to take precautions while stepping out, as temperatures are expected to sharply rise in the next few days.
According to the Mumbai Meteorological Centre, the city may witness temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, while some suburban pockets could see the mercury climb to as high as 43 degrees Celsius. Officials said this is significantly higher than the usual seasonal levels, with temperatures expected to remain around 6.4 degrees Celsius above the normal average.
The weather warning comes as maximum temperatures across Maharashtra have been steadily rising over the past few days. Residents in several parts of the state have already started feeling the impact of the harsh summer conditions.
Coastal districts, in particular, have reported a noticeable spike in heat and humidity. On Monday (March 9), the Ram Mandir area in Mumbai’s western suburb recorded a temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius reflecting the unusually high heat being experienced in parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The IMD has cautioned that the heat wave conditions could continue in the Mumbai region and surrounding districts. While Mumbai, Thane and Palghar remain under an ‘orange’ alert, Raigad district has been placed under a ‘yellow’ alert indicating that heat conditions could intensify but are expected to remain less severe.
Meteorologists have warned that hot and humid weather conditions are likely to persist on Wednesday, March 11, in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar. The weather department has asked people to avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours and to stay hydrated.
In other parts of the state, dry winds in Vidarbha and Marathwada are adding to the heat stress making the weather feel even more intense. Akola district in Vidarbha was also placed under a ‘yellow’ alert, with the possibility of heat wave conditions in some areas.
For the next five days, the IMD has issued a general caution for Maharashtra advising residents to remain alert as temperatures continue to fluctuate. While central Maharashtra and Marathwada are expected to remain largely dry, the region may experience warm and humid conditions on March 10 and 11.
