Pune weather: 4.6°C: 3rd lowest for February in 78 years

Many other parts of the state also witnessed a dip in temperature on account of the cold wave condition prevailing in the entire north of the country. Ahmednagar also recoreded 4.6°C while Nashik recorded the lowest in the state at 2.7°C.

“Though this is not a very common phenomenon,it cannot be called a very rare situation either. With cold wave conditions prevailing in the entire state,making the atmosphere dry,the cold and dry north westerlies subsequent to the passage of the western disturbance is seeing the temperatures dip. The dryness in the atmosphere is one of the main reasons for such low temperatures in the state,’’ said Sunita Devi,director weather central,IMD,Pune.

She said since there was no easterlies,the active clear sky conditions also make the local development help in lowering the temperatures and these conditions would continue till February 11,after which the city could expect a rise in temperature as in the past week.

The all-time low for the season was recorded in the city on January 17,1935 — 1.7°C,followed by 2.8°C on January 2,1991. The dip in minimum temperatures in February has been observed for the past 34 years. “There have been several occasions when the temperature has dipped in February,” Devi added.

The temperatures dipped in Mumbai too,with Santacruz recording 8.8°C and Colaba 14.2°C. The cold wave condition is prevailing in Punjab,Haryana,Delhi,Rajasthan,Uttar Pradesh,Western Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.