PUNE: The October-end chill is likely to stay away from the city for a few more days, with marginally near-normal minimum temperatures to be experienced in Pune till November 1, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated in its forecast.
Night temperatures are likely to stay in the range of 16-17C in Pune during the next few days, thus, being slightly above normal in the city, IMD officials said on Tuesday.
On Tuesday morning, the minimum temperature in Shivajinagar was 16.8C, marginally above normal by 0.4C.
Senior IMD scientist KS Hosalikar, also head of surface instruments division at the Climate Research and Services, IMD, Pune, told TOI, “As per IMD’s forecast for the next five days, the minimum temperature in Shivajinagar is likely to range between 16-17C. Therefore, we do not expect much of a drop in the minimum temperature till November 1 in the city. In some other parts of Pune, depending on the area’s topography, such as NDA, the minimum temperature could be slightly lower.”
Hosalikar said as per the recent IMD’s global forecasting system forecast guidance, there could be a slight dip in minimums after October 28-29, especially in North Madhya Maharashtra (including Pune district) and the adjoining Marathwada area. “But this drop may not be too much. The lower level winds are expected to be easterly (cold and dry winds) throughout the next seven to eight days, maintaining a pleasant chill especially during the night and early morning hours,” he said.
“Other interior parts of Maharashtra are also likely to see seasonal temperature around or little less with the approach of November,” he said.
On the slight fog that is beginning to surface in parts of the city during the early morning hours, Hosalikar said, “Monsoon has recently withdrawn, so there is still considerable humidity (around 60%) in parts of Pune. Winds are also calm, with mainly clear skies. In addition, the drop in minimum temperature in some parts of Pune district could be slightly more, with minimum temperatures marginally lower than 15C. All these are favourable conditions for the development of a thin fog or mist in early mornings in some places, especially open spaces with considerable green cover.”
