Maharashtra's Pune and neighboring areas are witnessing an unexpected cold wave with Malin, Shivajinagar, Loni Kalbhor and Pashan areas clocking temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Loni Kalbhir recorded the lowest temperature on Saturday at 8.2 degrees Celsius, media reports said.
These readings were lesser than typically cooler regions of Maharashtra like Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar, reports pointed out. While Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar recorded 17.7 degrees Celsius and 10.5 degrees Celsius on Friday, Pune's minimum temperature was 9.5 degrees Celsius, Punekarnews.in pointed out.
On Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said that Mumbai recorded a minimum temperature of 16.5 degrees Celsius, its lowest in November in the last eight years.
Cyclone Fengal, which is expected to make landfall in Tamil Nadu today evening, is said to be the reason for the cold wave conditions. A severe low-pressure system persisting in the Bay of Bengal had reduced humidity in the air, causing temperature to drop in Pune. The chill is intensified by the active flow of winds from the north amidst the decreased humidity.
Maharashtra and the rest of central India are likely to experience a further drop in humidity as Cyclone Fengal moves northwestward. Thus, Pune's night temperatures may dip further, news reports said.
The mountainous Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar obstruct the northern winds, effectively moderating the cold conditions experienced in the region, an expert was quoted as saying by the news report.
Meanwhile, the cold waves have caused cases of hypothermia among toddlers in Pune, Nashik and Ahilyanagar districts, Times Of India (TOI) said in a report. Infants showing breathing issues, changes in skin color and a drop in oxygen levels have been rushed to hospitals across these districts in the past few days, the daily said.
