Mumbai and areas such as Thane and Palghar are likely to experience a longer summer and a weaker monsoon this year. However, owing to the El Nino effect, the heat intensity will be much lower in comparison to the interior parts of Maharashtra, if the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is to be believed.
According to information from the IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Mumbai, El Nino is likely to cause below-normal rains this season, and can lead to hotter weather, not just during the monsoon days, but during the summer months until May 2026. However, officials said that coastal regions will feel a much muted impact of heat waves due to El Nino in comparison to interior Maharashtra, due to high humidity dissipated by winds from the sea.
Pedestrians try to keep cool in Andheri on Thursday afternoon. PIC/ATUL KAMBLE
A senior IMD official said, “El Nino can lead to a boost in temperatures, an increase in the possibility of extreme heat events, and humidity. However, in Mumbai, after around 1 pm, wind patterns get stronger, as is the case across Maharashtra’s coastal areas. This dissipates the feelings of hot and humid weather. The interior parts of the state are likely to feel heat with greater intensity.”
What is El Nino?
The official explained that El Nino and La Nina are climate patterns occurring in the Pacific Ocean. While El Nino leads to warmer waters in the Pacific, its impact felt in India includes warmer climates and a weaker southwest monsoon. La Nina, on the contrary, can lead to cooler temperatures, longer winter months, and unpredictable winter rain in parts of India. These events are cyclical and can occur every three to five years, the official said.
Graphic/Sanil Dhawde
Mumbai impact
Hot weather is experienced with much more intensity during El Nino events. While this is possible for Mumbai, being a coastal city, the impact is not felt as strongly as in the interior parts of Maharashtra, the official said.
Summer in the city
Mumbai recorded maximum temperatures of 40 degrees C on March 10, the highest in five years since 2021. In 2025, Mumbai recorded its highest temperature, 39.2 degrees C, in March. “Heat is felt with more intensity this year. Also, if monsoons are weaker, atmospheric temperature will collect slowly, leading to a feeling of very hot and humid days,” a senior official said.
Expert Speak
Pradeep Awate, former surveillance officer, Maharashtra health services, said, “Heat is felt in greater intensity between noon and 3 pm. While advisories are in place for those who primarily work outdoors, it is important to note the impact of heatwaves on social events that many of us attend on a routine basis, such as weddings and religious gatherings. Everyone is exposed to heat events, so we cannot stress enough that everyone needs to take care.”
Weather alert
Yellow alert for April 16 and 17:
Raigad, Thane, Palghar, Mumbai, Nashik, Jalgaon, Sangli, Solapur, Sambhajinagar, Jalna
Yellow alert for April 16: Dhule
Max temperatures on Thursday
Solapur: 43.4°C
Parbhani: 42°C
Jalgaon: 41.5°C
Satara: 41.2°C
Baramati: 40.5°C
Udgir in Latur: 40.4°C
Kolhapur: 38.1°C
Nashik: 37.5°C
Pune: 39.7°C
Thane: 36.6°C
City sizzles
Santacruz 33.1
Colaba 33.6
* This article was originally published here
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