Weather Update: Pune Records Coldest December Night At 6.1°C Since 2018
Weather Update: Pune Records Coldest December Night At 6.1°C Since 2018
Pune witnessed its coldest December night since 2018, with the minimum temperature dropping to 6.1°C at the National Defence Academy (NDA) on Monday. This temperature is the lowest recorded in the city this season.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the last time Pune recorded a similar temperature was on December 29, 2018, when the minimum temperature touched 5.9°C.
Other areas in Pune, such as Shivajinagar, recorded a maximum temperature of 29.7°C and a minimum of 7.8°C, highlighting a significant diurnal variation. Lohegaon recorded a maximum of 29.8°C and a minimum of 12°C.
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IMD stated that, “While the minimum temperatures are close to cold wave criteria, they have not yet satisfied it. “For a cold wave to be declared, the minimum temperature must remain below 10°C with departures between -4.5°C and -6.5°C for two consecutive days,”.
IMD attributed the drop in temperature to cold, dry northerly winds sweeping across the state. He predicted that these conditions would persist for another day, followed by a gradual rise in minimum temperatures by two to three degrees starting Wednesday.
Independent weather forecaster Abhijit Modak noted that Pune’s minimum temperature of 7.8°C is not only the lowest this season but also the lowest for 2024 so far. Modak explained that clear skies, dry air, and a high-pressure zone over central India have allowed cold winds from the north to flow freely, leading to a drop in night temperatures.
Maharashtra’s winter pattern this year is due the weak northeast monsoon. “Typically, systems in the Bay of Bengal during the northeast monsoon bring warmer easterly winds to the state. However, this year, the interference of the northeast monsoon over Maharashtra has been limited, allowing cold northerly winds to dominate.”
Other parts of Maharashtra also experienced significant diurnal variations. Mumbai (Santacruz) recorded a minimum temperature of 14°C, marking the city’s lowest temperature of the season, while its maximum temperature was 34.8°C. Solapur reported a maximum of 33°C and a minimum of 11.5°C, while Satara recorded a maximum of 31.3°C and a minimum of 10.4°C.
