Pune Colder Than Hill Stations of North: Season’s First Single-digit Temperature Recorded at 8.9°C, Lower Than Dharamsala and Katra
PUNE: Early November mornings in Pune have turned brisk, with the city logging its season’s first single-digit temperature. On Wednesday, minimum temperatures in Shivajinagar and the NDA area dropped to 9.9°C and 8.9°C, respectively. The NDA’s reading was lower than that of prominent north Indian cities like Delhi (10.4°C), Gurugram (11.6°C), and Amritsar (9.5°C). Remarkably, Pune’s chill also rivaled hill stations like Dharamsala (9°C) and Katra (9.1°C).
“This November feels like a hill station in the mornings. Last year was much warmer around this time,” said Preeti Sinha, a regular walker in the NDA area. The previous single-digit minimum temperature for November was recorded in 2022, at 8.8°C.
Meteorological Insights
According to a senior IMD scientist, the drop in minimum temperatures is due to cold, dry northerly winds flowing into Maharashtra from northern India and reduced moisture levels. The daytime temperatures in Pune have also remained moderate, with Shivajinagar at 28°C and NDA at 27.7°C on November 26, comparable to cities like Delhi and Gurugram.
However, this cold spell might not last. A deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal, expected to evolve into a cyclonic storm, could lead to moisture incursion into Maharashtra, raising minimum temperatures from Friday. Experts predict this will temporarily end Pune’s winter chill, with cloudy skies and warmer nights expected by early December.
Trend Analysis
Weather experts noted that the latter half of November this year has been significantly cooler, averaging 3.4°C lower than the same period last year. This cooling trend is attributed to clear skies and calm nights facilitating heat escape, conditions likely to persist until the month’s end.
Independent forecaster Abhijit Modak added that while minimum temperatures in Pune and Ahilyanagar dipped to 9.4°C on Wednesday, the upcoming cyclonic system may shift the weather pattern.
