On Friday and Saturday, the minimum temperature in the city fell to 11.9 degree Celsius. (Express photo) On Friday and Saturday, the minimum temperature in the city fell to 11.9 degree Celsius. (Express photo) On two consecutive days, Friday and Saturday, Pune remained the coldest city in Maharashtra. The minimum temperature slipped nearly 3 degrees below normal, reaching 11.9 degree Celsius in the night on both days, the lowest temperature recorded during the season so far. The temperature fell without any influence from cold northerly winds or western disturbances, which usually cause the drop in temperature over Maharashtra. The Indian Express explains why winter seems to have come early to Pune Why did the minimum temperature fall? From the beginning of November, the minimum temperatures over most parts of Maharashtra began to fall gradually. The temperatures hovered between 14 degree and 16 degree Celsius and on November 12, Pune and some places in Madhya Maharashtra remained colder than Mahabaleshwar, a hill station. Scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed this drop in mercury to the combined effect of clear sky conditions and lack of moisture. Along with Pune, other cities that experienced similar cold conditions during this week were Nashik, Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur. Is it normal to experience such cold conditions at the beginning of November? With the onset of winter, usually at the beginning of November, the minimum temperatures over most parts of Maharashtra start to fall. During this period, local weather varies as per interference from cold northerly winds. But this year, November began on a warmer note, accompanied by light showers and thunderstorm activity during Diwali. But this week, minimum temperatures across the state began to show a significant decrease. As minimum temperatures in Nashik, Pune and some cities in Vidarbha region slipped below the normal mark, Met officials said this was not an unusual phenomenon. A similar trend continued over north Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha regions through the week. In the last 10 years, the lowest minimum temperature recorded in November in Pune had ranged from 7.9 degree to 12.9 degree Celsius. The coldest day ever recorded in Pune was November 27, 1964, when the temperature plunged to 4.6 degree Celsius. Did Cyclone Gaja influence local weather? No. Cyclone Gaja, which made a landfall and weakened over Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, did not play much of a role in determining the weather over Maharashtra, as it moved westward and subsequently weakened into a deep depression while crossing over to Kerala on Saturday morning. Along its further course, however, this system is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm as it heads towards and reaches Lakshadweep islands on Sunday. If the deep depression had progressed northwards, towards Karnataka and Maharashtra, it would have led to cloudy conditions in the state, said Met officials. This would, in turn, cause an increase in both the day and night temperatures over Maharashtra. What to expect in the coming days? Met officials said the minimum temperature in the city may rise by 2 degree to 3 degree Celsius, fluctuate between 14 degree to 16 degree Celsius, and this trend will last until the middle of next week. Otherwise, weather conditions are likely to remain breezy and dry. However, temperatures are likely to rise during the day, making it warmer than usual. The maximum temperatures are likely to jump above the normal mark by 2 degree to 4 degree Celsius, and the day temperature will hover around 34 degree Celsius in the coming days. For all the latest Pune News, download Indian Express App

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