Pune is likely to see mostly dry weather and rising temperatures over the coming week after the India Meteorological Department announced the complete withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon from Maharashtra on October 8. The monsoon had already retreated from Pune and Mumbai on October 3, at least five days ahead of schedule and the earliest exit from these areas in more than 20 years.
The withdrawal line currently passes through Ranchi, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Bijapur, Hyderabad, Belagavi and Panjim, according to the IMD. With the rain-bearing system moving away, maximum temperatures in Pune are expected to rise gradually, with Shivajinagar likely to record around 36 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
Shivajinagar, Pune’s chief weather observatory, recorded a maximum temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius on October 8. The station had recorded 35.7 degrees on October 6, the highest October temperature there since 2002. The reading was recorded as the city moved into a period of largely dry conditions following the early withdrawal.
Temperatures were also elevated across Pune’s other monitoring stations. Pashan and Lohegaon recorded maximum temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius, while Chinchwad was marginally warmer. Magarpatta and the National Defence Academy station recorded maximum temperatures of 33.5 degrees Celsius.
Night-time temperatures are expected to increase as well. Shivajinagar recorded a minimum of 21.1 degrees Celsius on October 8, but this is expected to reach about 23 degrees in Shivajinagar, Pashan, Lohegaon, Chinchwad and Lavale over the next few days. Magarpatta is expected to record the warmest mornings, with minimum temperatures likely to reach 26 degrees Celsius within three to four days.
The wider region was also recording above-normal temperatures. On the morning of October 8, the IMD recorded maximum temperatures of 35.7 degrees Celsius in Satara, 36.3 degrees in Ahmednagar and 37.6 degrees in Solapur. These were 4.8 degrees, 4.5 degrees and 4.8 degrees above normal, respectively.
Mahabaleshwar remained comparatively cooler, recording a maximum temperature of 27.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 18.6 degrees. None of the listed stations recorded rainfall during the 24-hour period ending on the morning of October 8. The IMD’s immediate forecast for Pune is for predominantly dry weather, gradually rising daytime and minimum temperatures, and a maximum near 36 degrees Celsius in Shivajinagar.
