October heat grips Maharashtra after monsoon exit, Vidarbha touches 39 degrees Celsius

With the monsoon having withdrawn from Maharashtra, the effect of "October heat" has intensified across the state. In the second week of October itself, maximum temperatures in many areas have risen 2 to 7 degrees Celsius above average. Heat wave-like conditions were felt in Mumbai-Santacruz and Ratnagiri.

The afternoon heat has grown sharper because the sky is clear, air pressure is higher and hot, dry winds are blowing from north India.

According to senior weather expert Manikrao Khule, a belt of high pressure has formed from north Gujarat to West Bengal. This has pushed air pressure in Maharashtra above average. With clear skies, the sun's rays fall directly on the ground through the day, and hot, dry winds are helping raise temperatures.

The cool sea breeze reaching Mumbai is also being affected, so the humidity feels higher. Khule said that when these cool winds from the sea slow down, the heat on land takes longer to subside. This reduces the pleasant coolness of the morning, and the humidity feels worse after noon.

On relief, Khule estimates that maximum temperatures may ease somewhat from October 20. He said temperatures could dip a little from Dussehra, that is, from October 20. He also said there is no prospect of either a cyclone or rain in Maharashtra over the next two weeks.

According to Khule's observations, maximum temperatures have reached 33 to 38 degrees in Konkan, 34 to 38 degrees in Central Maharashtra, 34 to 36.6 degrees in Marathwada and 35 to 39 degrees in Vidarbha. In all these regions, temperatures are well above average.

Early-morning minimum temperatures have not risen sharply, but Alibag still recorded a minimum of 27.6 degrees. Khule has also warned that night-time humidity may increase between October 16 and 22.