Pune is experiencing very hot weather as it recorded its highest temperature of the summer season, reaching 41.8°C at the Shivajinagar observatory. Some areas nearby, like Wadgaonsheri, got even hotter at 43.4°C. Although this isn’t the highest temperature ever recorded in March, which was 42.8°C in 1892, the current heatwave is making daily life difficult and raising worries about health in the city.
This year’s heat is much higher than the usual March temperatures, which are normally between 33.4°C and 36.7°C. Different areas in Pune are feeling the heat differently. For example, Pashan also recorded 41.8°C, and Koregaon Park was at 40.9°C. This makes Pune the hottest city in Maharashtra right now. The temperatures usually peak around 2:30 pm, and it stays warm at night too, making it hard to cool down.
The hot weather is happening because of several reasons. Warm air from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and north Gujarat is blowing into the area. The clear skies and lack of rain are also making things hotter. Hot winds from nearby regions are adding to the situation.
If we look at temperatures in other parts of Maharashtra, we see some surprising results. Normally, Malegaon in Nashik has higher temperatures, reaching 44°C this year. But Pune’s recent temperatures have been higher than cities like Nagpur and Solapur. The Marathwada and Vidarbha regions are also feeling this extreme heat.
This summer of 2024 is already breaking records, with ten days over 40°C, which is the most in five years. In April alone, there were seven days over 40°C, and places like Lohegaon had record temperatures in March. This is a big change from previous years, like 2021, when temperatures rarely passed 40°C.
These temperature changes suggest that we need to pay attention to the weather and think about how to deal with these heat patterns in the future.
