Mumbai: Cyclone Arnab may bring cooler weather, but air quality concerns remain

With Cyclone Arnab making landfall on Indiarsquos eastern coast the weather activities are likely to bring changes to conditions in Mumbai as well Independent meteorologists suggest that the city is expected to see higher moisture in the days ahead with the worst of Octoberrsquos heat behind us and the likelihood of light showers by the end of the month However experts caution that the rains may not be powerful enough to make Mumbairsquos air as clear as it is during monsoonspopcorn number2 am descTime Arnab made landfall on Indiarsquos east coast on Wednesday classDefaultDip in tempWeather experts state that while Mumbai has been seeing temperatures as high as 38degC in the past few weeks they are estimated to make a slight dip to about 34degC ldquoSince Mumbai will also be seeing a lot of cloud cover in the daytime the temperatures can be expected to go lowerrdquo said Rushikesh Agre an independent weatherman who runs lsquoMumbai RainsrsquoWet weekendAs for Maharashtra experts say the cyclone is now moving northwards so regions like east Vidarbha are expected to get rainfall while the ghat section from Nasik to Satara can also expect rainExpert SpeakRajesh Kapadia independent meteorologist Vagaries of the WeatherlsquoThe cyclone created a lowpressure area and the winds from the Arabian Sea are likely to get pulled inwards This would mean a temperature lower by 2degC3degC meaning the October heat is behind usrsquoRushikesh Agre independent weatherman Mumbai RainslsquoWhile Mumbai has been experiencing landlocked temperatures it is likely to experience its regular coastal temperatures by Octoberend There are also chances of light rain over the weekend but the models could evolve in the days to comersquoAthreya Shetty independent meteorologistlsquoParticles of pollutants can act as condensation nuclei in a high humidity environment which allows water molecules to bind to them creating lower visibility and poor air quality However Mumbai is also likely to get breezier days owing to circulations in the Arabian Sea If strong enough the breeze might give us clear skiesrsquo