The city of Nashik experienced its coldest night of the season so far on Friday, with the mercury plunging to a low of 7.4 degrees Celsius, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This reading broke the previous seasonal record of 7.8°C set just days earlier on December 12.
Sharp Dip Across Key Regions
The drop was significant, falling sharply from 10.4°C recorded on Wednesday. In contrast, the daytime maximum temperature saw a slight increase, rising to 30.3°C from Thursday's 29.7°C. The chill was even more pronounced in the vital grape-growing belt of Niphad, within Nashik district, where the minimum temperature fell to 5.4°C, also a new seasonal low surpassing the earlier 5.7°C from December 12.
Data from the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth weather station in Niphad revealed an even more dramatic single-day fall of 7.4 degrees on March 6 this year, when temperatures had hit 4.2°C. On Friday, Niphad's maximum temperature was recorded at 29.9°C.
The cold wave extended to other parts of the region. Jalgaon city registered its season's lowest minimum at 7.5°C, a steep drop from 10.7°C on Thursday. Malegaon in Nashik district also saw temperatures dip to 8°C from the previous day's 9.6°C.
Agricultural Impact and Mitigation Efforts
The persistent decline in night temperatures has become a major concern for grape cultivators in the area. Farmers fear that if the minimum temperature remains below 7°C for three to four consecutive days, it could severely hamper the growth of berries, potentially affecting yield and quality.
In response to the threat, growers are actively deploying protective measures. These include using drip irrigation systems to manage water temperature and even lighting bonfires in their vineyards during the night in an attempt to maintain a warmer microclimate and shield the delicate crops from the biting cold.
Wider Regional Chill and Forecast
The cold conditions were not confined to Nashik district. Several stations in the Vidarbha region reported below-normal night temperatures:
- Amravati: 9.8°C
- Nagpur: 8.5°C
- Gondia: 8°C
- Yavatmal: 10.2°C
These readings represented departures from normal ranging between minus 2 to over 3 degrees. Parts of Marathwada, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nanded (both at 10.8°C), also remained cooler than usual.
An IMD official provided a forecast, stating, "A gradual rise in maximum temperature is expected over Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada during the next 48 hours, with no large change thereafter." The official added that minimum temperatures over these regions are likely to see no significant change for the next week, and Vidarbha is also expected to experience no major fluctuation in both maximum and minimum temperatures during this period.
Independent weather forecaster Abhijit Modak attributed the prolonged chill to a persistent high-pressure system. "With the anticyclone persisting for a prolonged period, a stable winter chill has been maintained," he explained, noting that Nashik has recorded nine consecutive days of single-digit minimums this December, while Pune has seen eight straight days.
