The state is experiencing intensified heat, with the mercury rising to 39.5°C, nearing the 40°C-mark unusually for early March. Pune's Shivajinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 38°C on Saturday, which was 3.1° above normal.
Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reveals that the first week of March 2025 recorded the highest average maximum temperature in the last decade for Pune Shivajinagar, with an average of 36.6°C. Comparatively, the first-week temperatures in previous years were:
2024: 34.5°C
2023: 33.8°C
2022: 34.9°C
2021: 36.3°C
2020: 32°C
2019: 33.6°C
2018: 35.5°C
2017: 35°C
2016: 33.1°C
2015: 28.4°C
2014: 30.1°C
Sharp rise in other areas also
Other areas also recorded a sharp rise in maximum temperature. According to the data, the Koregaon Park area recorded 39.1°C, and in Chinchwad, the temperature was recorded at 39.4°C on Saturday.
According to the IMD data, on March 7, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 36.4°C, which was above the normal level by 1.5°C. On March 8, the maximum temperature rose to 38°C, which was above the normal level by 3.1°C. Several other locations across Madhya Maharashtra also reported significantly high temperatures, with Solapur reaching 39.1°C, Sangli hitting 38.5°C, and Satara recording 38.2°C, all above normal by 2-3°C.
Pune scientist SD Sanap said, “The temperature is likely to increase by 1-2 degrees over the next few days. The night temperature in the city will experience a drop in the nighttime temperature in the last 48 hours.”
According to the IMD reports, the situation is going to remain even more severe in some coastal areas. Heatwave conditions at isolated places have already been reported. The state health department has released an advisory regarding the heatwave conditions in a few areas, urging citizens to minimize their exposure to the sun and keep themselves hydrated as much as possible.
