In a surprising turn of weather events, Pune witnessed one of the coolest mornings of the season as the National Defence Academy (NDA) recorded a minimum temperature of 7.6°C, closely following Shirur, which claimed the title of the state’s coldest location with a temperature of 7.4°C, according to the records of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Shivajinagar and Nashik, in proximity to Pune, secured the third position with minimum temperatures of 8.6°C.
On Thursday, temperatures across many parts of Maharashtra dipped below their seasonal averages, with recorded minimums registering 2–5° below normal. Jalgaon reported 9.3°C, while Baramati and Nagpur marked 8.7°C. Akola and Gondia recorded minimum temperatures of 9.5°C, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Malegaon experienced lows of 9.4°C.
According to a senior IMD Pune official, the minimum temperatures throughout Maharashtra are expected to gradually rise starting Friday afternoon, a trend that is anticipated to persist for the next three or four days. The shift in wind patterns is likely to occur, and two consecutive western disturbances in north India are expected to act as a barrier against further drops in minimum temperatures until around January 29. However, a brief period of nighttime temperature decline may be anticipated thereafter.
Earlier predictions by an independent weather forecaster hinted at the occurrence of single-digit minimum temperatures in several Maharashtra districts on January 24–25 due to the intrusion of dry air from the north.
