Wednesday saw a surprising spell of light to moderate rainfall across Mumbai, bringing some respite from the scorching heat. However, these light showers will only bring in more heat and humidity, even as temperatures continue to hover around 35 degrees to 36 degrees Celsius, say meteorologists.
Central Maharashtra, including Sangli, Pune, Mahabaleshwar, and Kolhapur received moderate rainfall, higher in comparison to the spell of light showers in Mumbai. These atmospheric conditions, such as the cloudy weather and light drizzling, will continue over the next two days in Mumbai and some parts of Maharashtra, as per sources.
While the days will continue to be hot and humid, night temperatures will hover around 25 degrees Celsius, and will also see an improvement in the overall AQI levels, which otherwise remain at a shocking high during the daytime.
At present, the Air Quality Index in the city ranges between 130 and 170, as per available information, and this range is "quite high" in comparison to some of the metropolitan cities in other parts of the world, including Singapore, which reports of an AQI level as low as 28.
The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution. For instance, an AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality. As per World Live Air Quality Map, Kathmandu in Nepal with an AQI of 373 ranks second to Baghdad which reports an AQI of 552, the highest AQI level, translating into "hazardous." Mumbai ranks fifth, with an AQI level of 167. As we move towards the West, the air quality improves drastically, with the Bahamas reporting the cleanest air (AQI 13) followed by New Zealand at the 10th position (AQI 24).
As of Thursday, Mumbai's air quality index at 130, has been termed to be 'poor' by the AQI.in, reporting 66 per cent humidity. PM10, which is very small particles found in dust and smoke, making it a common air pollutant with a diameter of 10 micrometres, stands at 120ug/m3 at the moment, which again indicates a 'poor air quality.' Major air pollutants in the city of Mumbai, as per information by AQI.in, are gases such as carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and OZone, along with particulate matter, that is dust and smoke. While in 2024, the AQI in Mumbai hovered around 100, this year there has been a 34 per cent increase, taking the AQI level to 134, which indicates a shift from moderate air quality to poor air quality index. And in a span of five years from 2020 to 2025, the Overall Annual Percentage change of AQI has been a 9 per cent rise in AQI levels, that is the quality of air we breathe has worsened over this period of time.
While moderate air quality is acceptable for most, sensitive individuals might experience mild discomfort. Poor air quality is indicative when breathing becomes slightly uncomfortable, especially for those with respiratory issues and the quality of air is termed to be hazardous when dangerously high pollution levels are detected. It can lead to life-threatening health risks with prolonged exposure.
As per private weather forecasting agencies on X, there has been a 29 per cent surplus pre-monsoon rainfall across peninsular India in the past month. However, farmers are reportedly anxious and wary about the damage this kind of "erratic weather conditions," can cause to their crops which by now are ready to be harvested. Hailstorms and high-speed winds in Vidarbha and Marathwada in Maharashtra might lead to crop destruction, warn weather experts, but at the same time, they add that these conditions could also lead to replenishment of soil moisture for the upcoming crop season.
Meanwhile, excess rainfall has been recorded in the southern states of the country, including Tamil Nadu, parts of Karnataka, Kerala, and Lakshadweep. This is expected to intensify in the days to come, experts from Skymet Weather reportedly said. While the intensity of rains will gradually decrease as we enter into mid-April, scattered showers and thunderstorms will likely persist in the southern states until the end of April, experts added. They have warned of the likelihood of high-speed winds in the coming days.