Pune: In March itself, Punekars have started sweating. Punekars started experiencing hot and dry weather earlier this month. March is the month of seasonal change from winter to summer and the maximum temperature starts to rise gradually from the beginning of March.
This year, however, the mercury rose and remained close to the 40 degree Celsius mark for five consecutive days between March 16 and March 19. The maximum temperature during these days was 3 degrees above normal.
Temperature rise from the core heating zone
It is not the day temperature but the summer season which is unusual for Pune in the month of March. Earlier in March 2017 and 2019, the maximum temperature of Pune had crossed the 40 degree mark, while the all-time record of 42.8 degree Celsius was recorded in March 1892. Generally, a core heating zone develops between Odisha and Gujarat in March and the maximum temperatures show an increasing trend. Such a prolonged period of hot days over Pune and its adjoining areas has been mainly due to the hot winds coming from the areas of west and north-west India, where heat wave conditions prevailed last week.
drop in humidity level
Weather experts say that hot winds from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and some southern states reach parts of Maharashtra. According to information received from IMD Pune, apart from these warm winds, the humidity level dropped and remained in the range of 12 to 15 per cent for most of the day. During the afternoon hours, it fell below 10 per cent, resulting in hot and dry conditions in Pune.
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People’s throat is drying up due to heat
Summer has started. The heat has hit hard. Throat is dry in the sun. The temperature has been increasing continuously since a week. These days the temperature in the city remains in the range of 35 to 40 degree Celsius. In such a situation, the throats of the citizens have started drying up. Citizens are wandering for water with bottles to quench their thirst. There is no arrangement of pew at any crossroads or any public places in the city. Troubled by the rising heat, some Punekars are seen crowding near juice centers and cold drinks houses, while others have to resort to hotels to quench their thirst.
Date | maximum temperature |
March 13 | 35.4 |
March 14 | 35.8 |
March 15 | 37.5 |
March 16 | 38.1 |
March 17 | 39.1 |
March 18 | 39.0 |
March 19 | 39.1 |
March 20 | 37.8 |
March 21 | 37.2 |