Summer to be longer this year due to El Nino, also known as ENSO, effect across India, including in Maharashtra, but weather experts say coastal regions surrounding Mumbai will keep the city's temperature much lower compared to other parts of the state.
According to the forecast by weather agency Skymet, less rainfall is likely this monsoon season and can lead to harsh days in the month of May 2026 due to El Nino. A senior weather department official told Mid Day that ENSO would cause "extreme heat events and humidity" as it boosts the temperature.
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In the case of Mumbai, the wind pattern gets stronger at 1 pm, like other coastal areas in Maharashtra. "The interior parts of the state are likely to feel heat with greater intensity," said a senior IMD official.
What is El Nino?
El Niño is a significant climate phenomenon involving the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. This shift disrupts global atmospheric circulation, often altering weather patterns thousands of miles away. While it is a natural cycle, its occurrence can trigger extreme weather events, ranging from heavy flooding in the Americas to severe droughts across parts of Asia and Africa.