PUNE, 12 NOV. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that Pune is set for a persistent cold spell after the city recorded the season's lowest minimum temperature at 13.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. This temperature is lower than the average minimum temperature for this time of year.
The IMD predicts that the minimum temperature will hover around 13°C on Wednesday and Thursday before rising slightly to 14°C on Friday, and then increasing by a degree or two over the following days.
Dr. Anupam Kashyapi, former head of weather forecasting at IMD, explained that the cold weather is caused by Northerly winds and cool air blowing from the Western Himalayan region, which includes areas like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. This air travels through Central India and influences the weather in North Central Maharashtra, including Pune.
The cold spell is also affecting other parts of Maharashtra, with several places in Central Maharashtra, including Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Malegaon, and Mahabaleshwar, recording below-average minimum temperatures. Jalgaon was the coldest spot in the state on Tuesday, recording a sharp 9.2°C, which is significantly below its seasonal average.
The IMD advises that children and the elderly should take precautions against cold and cough. However, the colder weather is expected to be beneficial for farmers, as it aids in the growth and production of short-period vegetables like spinach and fenugreek, as well as leguminous crops such as lentils and peas.
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