Mumbai Faces Hot, Humid Weather as AQI Deteriorates to Poor Levels

Mumbai woke to hot and humid conditions on Saturday, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting maximum temperatures between 36°C and 38°C across the city and suburbs. Clear skies are expected to persist over the next 48 hours, though high humidity will add to public discomfort. While no formal heatwave warning has been issued for the weekend, heatwave-like conditions are anticipated.

On Friday, the Santacruz observatory recorded 37.8°C, which was 4.7°C above normal for the season. This marked the second-highest temperature in Maharashtra that day, after Malegaon and Jalgaon both recorded 38.5°C. The IMD had issued a heatwave alert for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri on Friday—the first post-monsoon heatwave alert for the region this season.

Meanwhile, air quality in Mumbai has deteriorated significantly. The city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) on Saturday stood at 179, placing it in the 'Poor' category, down from generally 'Good' levels recorded in recent months. The shift follows the early withdrawal of the southwest monsoon, which ended officially on October 3, five days ahead of schedule.