Mumbaikars, we have some news for you all! The city could be in for warmer-than-usual conditions in the coming months as El Niño is expected to strengthen further, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicating that the phenomenon could reach the “very strong” category between October and December 2026. Scroll on to know more about this.
El Niño Could Cause Mumbai To See A Warmer Winter
While talking to MumbaiInLast24Hrs, IMD Mumbai scientist Sushma Nair said that El Niño is currently in the moderate category and is expected to strengthen through November and December. If the phenomenon persists, Mumbai could experience warmer conditions in the months ahead, including the possibility of a warmer winter.
For a city where winter is already relatively mild, even a small rise in temperatures could mean fewer of those cooler mornings and evenings Mumbaikars look forward to. However, it is still too early to say exactly how much temperatures could rise or how the season will play out.
The current El Niño event is expected to continue into early 2027. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has forecast its persistence through February 2027.
However, this does not mean that Mumbai’s winter temperatures can be predicted solely based on El Niño. Weather patterns are influenced by several oceanic and atmospheric factors, and officials have stressed that the exact impact of the phenomenon can vary.
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What Is A ‘Very Strong’ El Niño?
El Niño refers to the periodic warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which can influence weather patterns across the world.
While terms such as “Godzilla El Niño” or “Super El Niño” are often used informally to describe an exceptionally strong event, they are not official IMD classifications. The weather agency classifies El Niño as weak, moderate, strong or very strong.
So, while Mumbai could see a warmer winter if the current El Niño strengthens and persists, Mumbaikars may have to wait a little longer before we know just how warm the winter of 2026-27 will actually be.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Pexels/Aman Uttam
FAQs
Why could Mumbai have a warmer winter?
El Niño is expected to strengthen in the coming months, and weather officials say it could contribute to warmer conditions across Mumbai.
What is El Niño?
El Niño is a climate phenomenon marked by warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It can influence weather patterns in different parts of the world.
Does El Niño guarantee a warmer winter in Mumbai?
No, El Niño is only one factor that influences weather. Oceanic and atmospheric conditions can also affect Mumbai’s temperatures and the overall winter pattern.
