Pune records hottest October day since 2002

Pune set a new record for the hottest October day since 2002, with Shivajinagar hitting a maximum temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. This temperature was 4.4 degrees above the normal average. Lohegaon recorded an even hotter 36.6 degrees Celsius, also above the normal average by 5.3 degrees. Other areas like Wadgaonsheri, Chinchwad, NDA, and Hadapsar also saw temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius on the same day.

The trend of rising temperatures had been ongoing for several days, with Shivajinagar's daytime temperature reaching 34.8 degrees Celsius on October 3, when the southwest monsoon had already withdrawn from the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast predicted that the maximum temperature would remain around 35 degrees Celsius in Shivajinagar, Pashan, and NDA until October 12.

Lohegaon, Chinchwad, and Magarpatta could see temperatures rise to 36 degrees Celsius and 36 degrees Celsius respectively. According to the IMD, no rain was expected, and skies were likely to remain clear, possibly turning cloudy in the coming days. Meteorologists attributed the unusually high temperatures to an anticyclonic circulation, or a high pressure system, which was pushing temperatures above normal.

Amravati, the hottest spot in Maharashtra, recorded a scorching 39.6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 7 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature in Shivajinagar on Wednesday was 21.8 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degrees above normal. The temperatures have been gradually increasing over the past few days, although the rise has been marginal.

The IMD expects the minimum temperature to continue its upward trend, reaching 23 degrees Celsius in Shivajinagar, Pashan, Lohegaon, and Koregaon Park, and 25 degrees Celsius in Magarpatta and Chinchwad.