Cloudy skies over Pune city on Tuesday
On Tuesday, relative humidity in Pune was as high as 63%-75% in the morning hours. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the day temperature in Shivajinagar on Tuesday was 33°C, while its minimum was 15°C. Lohegaon on the other hand recorded 19.8°C as its minimum temperature and 35.3°C as its day temperature. He explained that temperatures typically begin rising in the second half of Feb, and in the absence of any active western disturbance affecting Maharashtra, maximum temperatures of 33–34°C are common. An IMD official said Pune is likely to see partly cloudy skies over the next two days, followed by clearer conditions, which could lead to a drop in minimum temperatures by 1–2°.
“While night temperatures are running above normal due to the absence of western disturbances since Jan, maximum temperatures are not significantly above average for this time of year. Because of cloudy conditions and higher moisture content,” he added, however, minimum temperatures are also above normal. Because of continuous moisture supply from southeasterly winds, “The current cloudy weather is.
Though Pune’s maximum temperature was 32°C as per a private forecaster on Tuesday, the “real feel” was around 34°C due to the combined effect of high humidity, light winds and strong solar radiation. Independent weather forecaster Abhijit Modak said the current warmth in Feb is not unusual. A trough in the upper-level westerlies is also contributing to rainfall over the Vidarbha region,” the official said.
The combined effect of high maximum temperatures, elevated minimum temperatures and relatively high humidity has made conditions uncomfortable, especially during late afternoons and early evenings. High moisture levels reduce the body’s ability to cool itself through sweat evaporation. Direct sunlight further adds to the heat load, making conditions feel hotter than the actual air temperature. Rainfall activity has mainly been recorded over south Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha.
Though minimum temperatures dipped in parts of the state on Tuesday — with some Vidarbha and Madhya Maharashtra stations reporting lower readings — nights in several cities were warmer than usual, with some parts also reporting rainfall.
