Nashik: Nashikites pulled out the warm blankets and snuggled up as the weekend began on a chilly note on Saturday.Sanjay Nikam felt taken back in time, when the cool breeze brought comfort even in the afternoon. “It is after a long time that we have experienced such weather in the city. We didn’t feel like removing our sweaters even in the day,” said the former government employee.The mercury shed 5.8 degrees in a day to record minimum temperature of 4 degrees celsius — the seasons lowest for Nashik. This is the season’s lowest minimum temperature since 2001, barring 2.7 degrees celsius recorded in February 2012.The all-time lowest temperature for Nashik city for Febraury, however, was recorded on Valentine’s Day in 1972 at 0.9 degrees celsius. Last year, the mercury had dropped to 5.1 degrees celsius on December 29, 2018.“This is the city’s lowest temperature for the season. The temperatures are likely to remain the same for a day or two, even as there are chances of rain at isolated places across the North Maharashtra region,” a senior officer from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Nashik observatory, said.Sushama Jadhav, a teacher with a private school, said that stepping out of the house on Saturday morning was a tough call. “There has been chill in the air over the past few weeks and we are accustomed to it. Taking first step out of the house in the morning was difficult today,” she said.The officers noted that the cold spell has been continuing in Nashik for over two months now. Barring about five days, the minimum temperature has remained below 15 degrees celsius.Rural areas the district reported frost on the crops in the farms. “Cold winds blowing on Friday night gave all indications about the chill in the morning. We were surprised to see the frost on the crops in the morning,” said Ganesh Jadhav, a farmer from Chandori village in Niphad taluka.The farmers were worried about cattle braving the cold weather. “We cleared the cow shed of all the material that could easily catch fire. Then, we lit a fire in a metal drum and left it on all night for the cattle to feel warm,” Rukhmini Patil, Samangaon village said.

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