The city witnessed its season’s lowest temperature on December 10, Wednesday, with Shivajinagar recording 8.1 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted further dips on Thursday.
SD Sanap, senior scientist at IMD Pune, told mid-day, “North-north winds bring cold, dry air from northern India, causing winter chills in Maharashtra. December and January are typically the coldest months, with January often reporting the lowest temperatures.” In recent years, Pune’s December nights have remained cool to cold, with minimum temperatures ranging between six degrees C and 12 degrees C.
The coldest recorded December night in this period was 5.9 degrees C in 2018, while 2024 saw a near-record low of 6.1 degrees C at the National Defence Academy (NDA) station on December 16. Shivajinagar and NDA stations often report these lows, with slight variations depending on local microclimates.
Cold wave
Maharashtra continues to reel under a sharp cold wave, with IMD issuing warnings for several regions. Pune and western Maharashtra are expected to get colder, with minimums dropping to 7-8 degrees C over the next two days. A yellow alert has been issued for Pune and Solapur. North Maharashtra will also experience significant temperature dips, with Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nashik, and Ahmednagar among the coldest districts. Nashik may touch 7 degrees C, while Jalgaon could fall to 6 degrees C.
Dr Simon Grant, physician and trustee, Ruby Hall Clinic
In Marathwada, chilly mornings and nights persist despite sunny days. A yellow alert has been issued for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, and Parbhani on December 10. In Vidarbha, the cold wave eased after Yavatmal, Gondia, and Nagpur recorded lower temperatures on December 9. On December 10, no cold wave is expected across the region. Nagpur may record a minimum of 9 degrees C, while Amravati is likely to see 11 degrees C.
With warnings active until December 11, authorities have urged residents, especially senior citizens, children, and vulnerable groups, to stay warm and limit exposure during early mornings and late nights.
Expert speaks
According to Dr Simon Grant, physician and Trustee, Ruby Hall Clinic, when temperatures fall, the body strains to stay warm, worsening asthma, heart issues, joint pain, and infections. Precautions can help.
What to do
Layer up, cover ears and hands, stay hydrated, eat warm meals, and keep rooms ventilated. If you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or hypertension, take medicines on time, stick to light daily exercise, and get proper sleep because poor sleep weakens immune function and increases susceptibility to infections.
What not to do
Avoid sudden cold exposure, don’t overuse heaters or have alcohol before stepping out — it gives a false sense of warmth while actually dropping core body temperature, skip heavy early-morning workouts, and don’t ignore breathlessness, chest pain, or persistent cough.
Min temperature recorded in pune in past Decembers
2018: 5.9°C
2015: 6.6°C
2014: 7.8°C
2013: 6.8°C
Coldest December minimum in recent years:
5.9°C in 2018
Last five years:
2024: 6.1°C, National Defence Academy, Pune, 16 Dec
2023: 12.3°C, Shivajinagar
2022: 8.9°C, Shivajinagar, last week of Dec
2021: 12.0°C, Shivajinagar, mid-Dec
2020: 8.1°C, Shivajinagar, 21 Dec
