“This month is the transition period — the time when winter ends and summer begins. During this change, the weather remains slightly hotter than usual. We may, of course, see a small drop once summer sets in,” K Sathi Devi, director of IMD, Mumbai said. Direct land-based winds over the past few days have pushed the maximum daytime temperature to 37 degree Celsius since Thursday. “However, that doesn't necessarily indicate an intense summer. In fact, the early morning temperature was just 15.8 degrees even on Friday morning. It’s only as the day progresses, that the temperature rises,” Sathi Devi said.

The IMD forecast a 15 degree minimum temperature for Saturday too. The rise in temperature, she stated, was due to the wind pattern. “The direct easterly winds — also known as land winds — are pushing the sea breeze away,” she said. She added that on Friday the winds showed an indication of changing direction to north-easterly. “In that case, there may be a slight respite but the hot weather will continue,” she said.