PUNE: The maximum temperature touched 40 degrees celsius for the first time this summer in the city after hot winds from north India sent the mercury up in the rest of the state too.
Shivajinagar recorded 39.3 degrees celsius as the day temperature on Monday while Lohegaon was a sizzling 40.1 degrees celsius. Both were two to three degrees above the normal.
North India has been heating up significantly and those hot winds have swept over parts of central India and Maharashtra, Skymet Weather Services president G P Sharma told TOI on Monday.
“Delhi recorded a high day temperature of 40.1 degrees C on Monday, its highest March day temperature since 2005. Winds from the north tend to flow into central India and parts of Maharashtra, increasing temperatures. Gujarat is also recording near heat-wave conditions. Thus, the impact of a hot northwest India can also spill over to Maharashtra. Temperatures are on the higher side in several parts of the country since the last three days. Heat conditions are above normal this time during March in many parts of the country in comparison to the last few years,” he added.
However, temperatures may come down slightly after the next couple of days, but a rise in the mercury across several parts of India is likely to recur soon.
“Changes in the wind pattern, influenced by western disturbances up north will cause the mercury to fluctuate every few days,” Sharma said.
All locations in Maharashtra are currently recording high day temperatures, significantly above the normal in some parts. In fact, the maximum temperatures are 3-5 degrees celsius above the normal in Vidarbha which is on a heat-wave alert.
IMD on Monday had forecast heat-wave conditions in some pockets with severe heat-wave conditions in isolated pockets over West Rajasthan and heat-wave conditions in isolated pockets over Himachal Pradesh on Monday, East Rajasthan, Saurashtra, Kutch and Madhya Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday and Vidarbha on Tuesday.
An IMD official told TOI, “Parts of Rajasthan are recording positive day temperature departures in the range of 6-7 degrees celsius, with a similar trend in Delhi on Monday where the maximum temperature was above the normal by 8 degrees. Winds from north India to Maharashtra have been heating up the state. However, we have not reported a heat-wave condition in parts of the state, though Vidarbha is on alert.”