Pune: The city recorded 13 days of sub-10°C temperature this Dec — the highest in a decade — as the mercury dipped to single-digit in Shivajinagar and Pashan again on Tuesday morning, the IMD data showed.The minimum temperature in Shivajinagar on Tuesday was 8.1°C. Pashan recorded 8.6°C.
“Pune has now recorded 13 days of single-digit minimum temperatures this December, indicating prolonged cold conditions,” said an expert from Vagaries of Weather blog.Some other areas in the city were not as cold as Shivajinagar or Pashan. Lohegaon registered a minimum temperature of 13.7°C, Chinchwad 14.5°C, Lavale 16.6°C, Magarpatta 15.6°C and Koregaon Park 13.3°C.IMD scientists said the variation in temperatures across different locations could be attributed to urbanisation and land use patterns. IMD scientist SD Sanap said areas like Magarpatta and Chinchwad experienced higher minimums because of increased urbanisation. “These areas have more concrete structures and built-up spaces, which retain heat and prevent temperatures from dropping as sharply,” Sanap said.In contrast, Shivajinagar and Pashan record lower temperatures because of their unique characteristics. “The Shivajinagar observatory is located on an agricultural college campus with abundant greenery and minimal concrete or road surfaces. This allows for better radiative cooling at night, leading to lower minimums,” Sanap said.Lohegaon’s relatively higher minimum of 13.7°C can be attributed to its extensive concrete and built-up areas. Urban heat islands created by buildings, roads and reduced vegetation trap heat, preventing temperatures from falling significantly during the night.The city is also witnessing a significant diurnal temperature range — the difference between maximum and minimum temperatures. While Shivajinagar’s minimum temperature was 8.1°C on Tuesday, its maximum reached 28.3°C, creating a variation of over 20 degrees. Similarly, Pashan recorded a maximum of 27°C against its minimum of 8.6°C. Lohegaon saw a maximum of 30.3°C, while the low was 13.7°C.According to an IMD forecast, no large change in maximum temperature is expected over Konkan, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada during the next seven days. “There will be a gradual fall in minimum temperature by 2-3°C over parts of Maharashtra region during next 48 hours and a gradual rise by 1-2°C over southern parts of Maharashtra thereafter. The minimum temperature is very likely to be in the range of 7-9°C over north interior Maharashtra during Dec 23-25, 2025,” the forecast stated.Sanap, the IMD’s scientist, said the slight increase in minimums in the coming days was because of southeasterly wind influence, while the effect of northerly winds was decreasing slightly. “The shift in wind patterns will moderate the cold conditions marginally,” he said.
