The city witnessed the second lowest recorded temperature for January in a decade on Sunday night when the temperature plummeted to 11 deg C. With weathermen predicting that the temperature may dip further to 10 deg C within the next 48 hours, if it happens, the city will observe the second record temperature for the month of January in 50 years.

The minimum temperatures recorded in the city yesterday were 11 and 15.2 deg C in Santa Cruz and Colaba respectively.

"11 degree is the lowest of the season as of now and we are expecting it to dip further," said an IMD official. In 2008, Met officials recorded the January temperature at 10.2 deg C and if the weathermen are right, the 10 deg C that is predicted in the next few days will be a rare occasion for Mumbaikars. However, the all-time low of 7.4 deg C, which was recorded in January 1962, is yet to be breached.u00a0

"Cold winds coming from north have led to a dip in temperature. The temperature between Sunday night and Monday morning has come down to 11 degree Celsius, which is five degrees lower than normal," said AK Rajeev, director IMD (western region).

Just a week back, Mumbaikars celebrated New Year's Eve under hot and humid climatic conditions, where the minimum temperature touched 21 deg C.

Meanwhile, medicos warn that owing to the low temperatures, morning walks may trigger respiratory infections. "We are seeing a rise in the number of cold and cough cases. Last week there were just 2-5 patients in OPDs, but after the cold spell numbers have increased to 20 a day," said Dr Pratit Samdani, consultant physician Breach Candy Hospital.