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Pune Swelters: Hottest May Nights on Record!
2 Jun
Summary
- Pune recorded its warmest May nights in over a decade.
- Average minimum temperature reached 24.12°C, highest since 2015.
- Warm nights pose risks for vulnerable populations due to prolonged heat stress.
Pune recorded its warmest May nights in over a decade this past May, with the Shivajinagar observatory registering an average minimum temperature of 24.12°C. This figure marks the highest for the month since 2015, surpassing the previous record of 23.9°C set in 2018. Daytime temperatures were also elevated, with an average maximum of 37.9°C, the highest since 2020.
Warm nights are a growing concern, as they prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat, extending the urban heat burden through the night. This poses increased health risks for the elderly, outdoor workers, and those without access to cooling. Persistent anticyclonic conditions and hot, dry winds contributed to the elevated daytime temperatures, with maximums crossing 41°C on multiple occasions.
Weather forecasters attribute the unusually warm nights to a lack of widespread pre-monsoon rainfall activity compared to previous years. Higher daytime temperatures combined with increased moisture and partly cloudy skies, which curtailed heat loss, prevented effective nocturnal cooling. These atmospheric conditions led to an average minimum temperature of 24.1°C, approximately 1.2°C above the normal.
