Pune: The city’s minimum temperatures on Friday dropped to the season’s lowest with Shivajinagar recording 18.5°C and NDA station reporting 16.8°C, as clear skies, low moisture levels and northerly winds contributed to night-time cooling.India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a minimum of 18.6°C in Pashan, 19.6°C in Lohegaon, 22.9°C in Chinchwad and 22.4°C in Magarpatta.IMD scientist S D Sanap said northerly winds and reduced moisture in the atmosphere were contributing to the dip in night temperatures. “Clear skies and less cloud cover during the night are allowing radiative cooling, leading to a drop in minimum temperatures,” he said.Sanap said minimum temperatures were likely to remain around the current levels for the next two to three days, followed by a gradual rise as moisture incursion from a system over Bay of Bengal influences weather conditions.“There will not be much of a further drop. Minimum temperatures are likely to remain consistent for the next two to three days, followed by a gradual rise because a system is forming over Bay of Bengal. Some moisture incursion is expected, which will lead to a rise in minimum temperatures,” he said.According to the IMD’s local forecast, Pune’s maximum temperature is expected to remain around 35°C on Saturday and Sunday, with minimum temperatures forecast at 19°C and 20°C, respectively. The forecast indicates mainly clear skies, becoming partly cloudy towards the afternoon or evening.From Monday, maximum temperatures are expected to ease gradually, reaching around 34°C on Oct 26 and 33°C by Oct 28 and 29. Minimum temperatures, meanwhile, are forecast to rise gradually to 20-22°C.The low-pressure area over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal persisted on Friday and is likely to intensify into a depression on Saturday, IMD said. The system is expected to strengthen further into a deep depression on Sunday and a cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday morning, before moving towards north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts over the following two days.Sanap said there was currently no significant possibility of rain in Pune or most parts of Maharashtra.
