Pune, the cultural heart of Maharashtra, is experiencing a truly unexpected phenomenon: a record-breaking cold wave that has left residents shivering. Temperatures have plummeted to levels typically associated with hill stations like Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala, creating a rare and surprising climatic event.
On Friday, Pune’s minimum temperature dipped to a chilling 9.5 degrees Celsius, significantly lower than Mahabaleshwar (10.5°C) and Lonavala (17.7°C), both renowned for their cooler climates. This unprecedented drop was not isolated to the city center. Across various locations, the mercury plunged to its lowest point on November 30th. NDA recorded a bone-chilling 8.2°C, Haveli (Loni Kalbhor) shivered at 9.1°C, Malin registered 9.6°C, Shivajinagar a slightly warmer 9.7°C, and Pashan measured 9.9°C.
But what’s behind this unexpected winter blast in the ‘Oxford of the East’? The answer lies hundreds of kilometers away, in the Bay of Bengal. The culprit is Cyclone Fengal, a severe low-pressure system that’s rapidly intensifying and is expected to make landfall in the coming hours. While Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, and Kerala are bracing for the cyclone’s direct impact, its indirect effects are profoundly felt in Maharashtra, specifically Pune.
Senior meteorologist Anupam Kashyapi, quoted by Punekar News, explains the unusual phenomenon: “The active flow of northerly winds, combined with significantly decreased humidity due to the cyclone, is intensifying the cold. This is why Pune is experiencing colder temperatures than traditionally cooler hill stations like Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala.” The cyclone’s influence is dramatically reducing humidity, leading to a continuous drop in both daytime and nighttime temperatures.
The situation is expected to worsen. As Cyclone Fengal tracks northwestward, further drops in humidity and temperature are anticipated across Maharashtra and Central India. The hilly terrain surrounding Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala acts as a natural barrier, partially moderating the impact of the northern winds and explaining why these areas are experiencing less extreme cold than Pune itself.
This unexpected cold wave is a stark reminder of the far-reaching effects of weather systems, illustrating how a cyclone hundreds of kilometers away can significantly impact local climates in unexpected ways. Pune’s residents are currently experiencing a unique weather event, one that showcases the complex interplay of atmospheric forces and the unpredictable nature of the climate.
