Mumbai: While Mumbaikars woke up to the coldest day yet this January at 12.6 degree Celsius, thanks to a cold wave in parts of Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada, the average pollution level reduced to "moderate" on Wednesday from "poor" the day before due to increased velocity of winds.
Minimum temperature recorded by the Indian Meteorological Department's Santacruz observatory was 4.1 degree Celsius below normal on Wednesday, and even lower than those recorded at far less dense places such as Alibaug (14 degree Celsius) and Ratnagiri (15 degree Celsius).
Meanwhile, IMD Colaba recorded a minimum temperature of 18 degree Celsius, which was 0.9 degree Celsius below normal.
K S Hosalikar, deputy director general of meteorology, IMD, said, "Winds have intensified, which has seen all coastal stations record a dip in minimum temperatures. Currently, the wind direction is north-westerly during the day and, besides, there is a cold wave. The wind speed is also very good."
It is the winds that ensured that the city's air quality turned "moderate" on Wednesday from "poor" on Tuesday. Real-time data recorded by System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) pegged the city's overall air quality index (AQI) at 163—down from 242 on Tuesday. On both days, though, it was way above the AQI range of '0 to 100' considered safe for breathing. SAFAR has forecast that the air quality is unlikely to deteriorate on Thursday.
Dr GufranBeig, project director, SAFAR, said Mumbai is blessed by sea breeze from all sides, which disperses pollutants. "That apart, the reason for the drop in pollution levels is the fact that winds that were calm have a good speed now. Good wind speed is konwn to carry away pollutants," said Beig.
The lowest minimum temperatures recorded in the past decade for the month of January was on January 29, 2012, at 10 degrees. The all-time record so far for the month is 7.4 degree Celsius on January 22,1962 .
Mumbaikars said the chill had returned after Christmas 2015 when minimum temperatures were seen hovering around 11 degree Celsius for two days continuously. Parel resident Neil Perriera said, "Most people were seen getting their warm clothes out once again on Wednesday, considering that last week the temperatures were not as low. The drop in minimum temperatures has made the climate very pleasant."
Last week, minimum temperatures were seen hovering around 16-17 degree Celsius. Humidity levels continued to be low on Wednesday in both Colaba and Santacruz at 52% and 39%, respectively. Maximum temperatures hovered around 30 degrees Celsius—Colaba recorded 27.7 degree Celsius and Santacruz 30.4 degree celsius.
