It’s only February and IMD puts Mumbai on heatwave alert for next 3 days

Weather-wise, February used to be a pleasant time in several parts of India. The winter chill would subside, but the scorching summer heat would still be weeks away– making for an ideal time for picnics.

But the climate is changing.

It’s only February, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already issued a heatwave alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Navi Mumbai for the next three days, as temperatures soar well above seasonal norms.

An IMD official said temperatures in the region are currently six to seven degrees Celsius above average. Mumbai recorded a high of 38.5 degrees Celsius in February, marking unusual weather conditions for the city, according to News18.

Temperatures are expected to climb further by one to two degrees on Wednesday (February 26), before easing slightly in the two days that follow. However, the marginal dip is unlikely to bring significant relief from the intense heat, the official said.

While there has been no formal communication on the heatwave status, weather stations like Santacruz have already met the parameters for a heatwave. Sources cited by CNBC-TV18 reported heatwave-like conditions prevailing in the Konkan belt.

Meanwhile, IMD scientist Dr Soma Sen Roy said rainfall is likely to intensify over the Western Himalayan region due to Western disturbances. “We have issued heavy rainfall warnings for the region from February 26 to 28,” Roy said.

There is a growing trend in both the frequency and intensity of heatwaves occurring across India, according to a 2024 paper published in Climate Dynamics by Rajib Chattopadhyay of IMD, Pune, and others. The authors said that “The humidity-driven, moist heat stress conditions are showing an increasing trend over the Indian region, especially in the eastern coastal states, which cause discomfort.”