Why Mumbai’s 35°C Feels Like 45°C Today – The Humidity Setting You Must Change on Your AC Right Now

In Mumbai, if the temperature reads 35°C, but it feels like 45°C, the cause is high humidity. High moisture is found in coastal areas, which interferes with the evaporation of sweat (which is how your body’s main form of cooling off). If evaporation is less, there is less cooling from your body because the heat remains trapped in your body.

That’s why the heat index (feels like) a temperature is often much higher than the temperature read on a thermometer. Even standard temperatures can feel much harder to handle, as your body is unable to cool down properly. For more updates, checkout World Page.

The AC Setting Most People Get Wrong

Many people believe that the main goal of the air conditioner is to provide the lowest temperature. In very humid cities like Mumbai, however, removing moisture is more important than cooling; this means you should set your air conditioning unit to “Dry Mode,” the setting that usually has a water droplet icon next to it. This is the setting that removes moisture from the air without excessively cooling the room – and therefore has benefits for you.

Why Setting Them to Dry Mode is Beneficial:

• Removes moisture from the air, making the air feel cooler
• Reduces discomfort caused by high humidity and sticky
• Uses less energy than cooling on full mode

How to Use Your AC More Effectively in Humid Heat

To increase your comfort:

• Be sure to set your air conditioning to Dry Mode during high humidity
• Avoid setting your air conditioning to an extremely low temperature; it should be set to around 24-26 degrees Celsius
• Always combine air conditioning with a fan to distribute the air properly
• Do not open doors or windows to allow moisture to come in from outside

India Heatwave, Work & Cost Reality

Explore working in 40 degree heat Delhi?
Discover office challenges and productivity in extreme heat.

Check rising summer bills Hyderabad why?
Explore why water and electricity costs are increasing.

Discover India hottest cities heat data?
Check why Indian cities dominate global heat rankings.

Explore India heatwave 2026 AC necessity?
Discover why AC is becoming essential in cities.

Check work from home heatwave trends?
Explore how offices may adapt during extreme summers.

Why This Matters for Health and Comfort

The humidity in an area can make it harder for your body to cool down by removing heat through sweat; thus, when the air is humid, not only does the ambient temperature increase, but your body’s ability to regulate its own temperature increases as well. Therefore, when the ambient temperature rises above what your body can handle (if it cannot cool down) it creates situations where you experience heat fatigue and/or dehydration. Additionally, if your body does not cool down at all due to high humidity, this can lead to serious health problems, including heat stroke.

By controlling humidity levels, you can reduce the workload placed on your body and improve the quality of your sleep; thus, during the heat of summer months, you will have a much greater sense of comfort.

Final Words

Understanding the effects of heat in Mumbai means understanding how much moisture is present in the air. Therefore, if you only turned your air conditioner up to a higher setting without addressing the source of discomfort, you still would not be addressing the true source of the discomfort in your home. The true comfort you gain from cooling your body comes not solely from cooling the air but rather from the removal of moisture from the air as well.

FAQs