Residents of Pune and its neighbouring regions woke up to the coldest morning of the season on Saturday, as a significant dip in minimum temperatures gripped the area. Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the sharp drop, attributing it to persistent northerly winds and clear night skies.
Record Low Temperatures Across the City
The city's official observatory in Shivajinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 8.1 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest reading of the current winter season. The suburb of Pashan was even colder, registering 7.3°C, which also constituted its season's coldest morning. A noticeable morning haze enveloped several locations, a common winter phenomenon resulting from low temperatures and increased moisture near the surface during calm nights.
IMD's daily report highlighted that while daytime maximum temperatures in Pune remained near the seasonal average at 29.5°C, the nights were substantially colder. This pattern reflects the sharp diurnal variation typical of the winter season in the region. The chill was not confined to Pune alone; most parts of Madhya Maharashtra experienced below-normal minimum temperatures.
Statewide Chill and Meteorological Causes
The cold spell extended across Maharashtra. Jalgaon recorded a low of 6°C, followed by Ahilyanagar at 6.4°C and Nashik at 6.9°C. The grape-growing belt of Niphad was particularly cold, with the mercury dropping to 4.5°C. Despite the intense chill, IMD officials clarified that coldwave conditions were not officially declared for Pune city. However, isolated coldwave conditions were predicted for Jalgaon, Nashik, and the ghat areas on Sunday.
Explaining the meteorological drivers, IMD scientist SD Sanap pointed to large-scale synoptic systems. He stated that an anti-cyclonic circulation over northwest India and adjoining Gujarat was primarily responsible. "Dry and cold northerly winds, flowing out of this anti-cyclonic system, are penetrating Maharashtra and parts of central India, keeping minimum temperatures below normal for the past few days," Sanap told The Times of India. The clear night skies further facilitated radiative cooling, allowing heat to escape rapidly.
Expected Relief in Coming Days
The IMD forecasts a change in the pattern starting early next week. Sanap indicated that a western disturbance active over northern India is moving eastward, which is likely to weaken and shift the anti-cyclonic circulation. "This will reduce the influence of dry, cold northerly winds over Maharashtra," he said, adding that a gradual rise in minimum temperatures of about 1–2°C is anticipated over the next 24 hours.
For Pune and nearby areas, the forecast suggests mainly clear skies with morning haze likely to persist for the next couple of days. Meteorologists note that such cold spells, characterised by sharp nighttime cooling and warm afternoons, are typical for December over the Deccan plateau when clear skies and northerly winds dominate the weather pattern.
