Pune, 1st December 2025: December 2025 finished as one of the coldest Decembers Pune has experienced in a decade. The city recorded an average temperature of 10.08 degrees Celsius, well below normal, which usually hover around 13°C to 15°C. Several days witnessed sharp drops in minimum temperatures.
According to weather expert Manikrao Khule, this unusual cold was driven by a combination of many climate factors. One of the main reasons was a negative Indian Ocean Dipole, a condition where the Arabian Sea becomes cooler than normal while the Bay of Bengal turns warmer. This imbalance altered wind circulation and allowed dry, cold air to move inland more effectively.
Another key factor was the presence of stronger-than-usual western disturbances. Originating near the Mediterranean region, these systems were more active this year and generated intense cold winds over northern India, including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Sikkim. As these winds moved south, they gradually descended and began influencing central India, including Pune.
In addition, a high-pressure belt stretching from northern India to Karnataka created favourable conditions for cold air to travel south without obstruction. This helped chilly northern winds penetrate deeper into the peninsula than usual.
While December has ended, meteorologists say the impact of these systems will linger. Daytime temperatures may rise slightly, but cold mornings and nights are expected to continue till January 6, extending Pune’s unusually chilly winter into the New Year.