City experiences coolest April in five years

Pune experienced the coolest April in five years this summer,the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has revealed. The mercury touched 40°Celsius only on one day of the month. “ Except April 29 and 30,when temperature touched 39°C and 40°C respectively,the mercury hovered around 38°C on other days. This is the mildest April in ten years barring 2006. In the previous years,there were at least 4-5 days above 40°C,’’ said AB Mazumdar,deputy director general,IMD Pune. The temperature of 40.3°C was the second lowest in 10 years.

The met department has attributed the low temperature to the continuing active western disturbance and the absence of heat wave from the nortwest. “Less land heating ensured that temperatures dipped in April,’’said Dr PCS Rao,director,weather central IMD.

The higest temperature recorded in April is 43.4°C,observed on April 30,1897. With the hot winds coming in from Rajasthan and Pakistan,the temperatures usually fluctuate between 39°C and 41°C at the end of April. This,however,did not happen this year,he said.

The city witnessed the hottest temperature in 100 years in 2008 when mercury reached 42.1°C. “For the city 2008 was the highest in terms of recorded temperature. This year was most mild as there were temperatures below 38 degrees,’’ the officer added.

The high temperatures in 2008 were attributed to massive urbanisation and the island effect- lack of trees and increasing concrete . For cities like Nagpur,44 degree celsius is normal.