As 2025 draws to a close, Pune residents are bundling up against a significant chill, with the city witnessing its coldest year-end mornings in seven years. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the prevailing cold and dry northerly winds have pushed temperatures notably below last year's levels, creating conditions reminiscent of 2017 and 2018.
A City Shivering: Temperature Data Across Pune
The IMD's Shivajinagar observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, December 30. This marks a sharp drop from the 17.6 degrees Celsius recorded on the same date in 2024. The chill was widespread, with Pashan recording 9.3°C, while other areas like Koregaon Park (13.9°C), Lohegaon (13.4°C), Chinchwad (14.7°C), and Magarpatta (15.8°C) also reported low readings.
The last comparable cold spell at year-end was in 2018, when temperatures plunged to 6°C on December 30 and 6.9°C on December 31. The current forecast indicates that the cold wave will persist through the New Year celebrations.
IMD Forecast: A Chilly Start to 2026
The weather bureau has predicted that the minimum temperature in Pune will remain around 10 degrees Celsius from December 31 to January 2. A slight rise to 11°C is expected only by January 3. In contrast, the city welcomed 2025 with a much milder morning temperature of 15.4°C on December 31, 2024.
The daytime hasn't been spared either. Maximum temperatures this year-end have stayed below the 30°C mark, unlike last year when they soared above 31°C between December 28 and 31. On December 29, Shivajinagar's maximum was 28.1°C, while Pashan saw 26.5°C.
The Cause Behind the Chill
IMD scientist S D Sanap attributed the dip to atmospheric patterns. "There are always year-to-year variations. This year, the northerly cold and dry winds are prevailing, resulting in temperatures being below normal compared to last year's. Similar conditions existed in 2017 and 2018 as well," Sanap explained.
The IMD expects only marginal changes in the maximum temperature in the coming days. It is likely to be around 27°C on December 31, rising slightly the next day, and reaching 30°C by January 4, 2026. The skies will remain clear, barring morning haze. This clarity leads to rapid radiation loss of the sun's heat during evenings and mornings, further intensifying the cold feel, compounded by the north winds.
As Punekars prepare for New Year's Eve gatherings and morning festivities, the advice is clear: the woolens are essential. The city is poised to ring in 2026 wrapped in a crisp, cold embrace, a stark contrast to the recent past and a return to a colder winter norm.
