PUNE: In 2019, Pune recorded the warmest December since 1902 as the city experienced unusually high temperature during this peak winter month.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature was fairly above normal during December which also resulted in warmer mean temperature for the month.
Speaking to Sakal Times, AK Srivastava, Head of Climate Research Division from IMD Pune said the average minimum temperature during December was as high as 16.9 degrees Celsius.
“This average was 5.5 degrees more than normal. December is always expected to be cooler and the temperature is expected to drop as low as 9 degrees Celsius. However, this year the lowest temperature recorded was 13.7 degrees Celsius during December,” said Srivasatva.
The night temperature touched as high as 21.4 degrees Celsius on December 26 which is 10.6 degrees more than normal temperature.
Srivasatava added that the mean temperature, that is the average of day and night temperature together is also second highest this time after 1952.
“Due to higher night temperature, the average has increased too. Though there is colder weather in northern India, the cooler wind is unable to penetrate in the peninsular region because of the anticyclone over central India. The temperature is expected to reduce in the first week of January. The major drop in temperature is witnessed in the month of December, but as the month is over, the drop will not be much,” said Srivasatava.
He highlighted that extreme weather events in northern India and hot winters in peninsular India are a part of climate variability.
