Heat wave conditions prevail over state, mercury levels to rise

Pune, April 24 Maharashtra is experiencing a heat wave and Pune is no exception with the mercury levels touching an unprecedented 42.1 degrees for this season on Thursday. This was the third highest temperature ever recorded by the Met department in the city for April, the other instances being 43.3 degrees on April 30.1897, 42.5 degrees on April 29, 1983. On April 14, 1981 too Pune had recorded 42.1 degrees.

There will be no reprieve for the citizens in the coming days with the met officers forecasting a steady rise in temperature in the coming days.

Director (Weather forecasting) India Meteorological Department (IMD) Dr Medha Khole said the heat wave can be attributed to the northerly winds which were responsible for hot dry air advection. The humidity values were low and the cloud free conditions were helping solar rays heat up the earth’s surface, a common phenomenon observed in the summer season. Incidentally Pune had touched the 40-degree mark on April 20.

Khole said there were several instances in April, from 1990 onwards when the mercury touched 41 degrees, but there were only three instances when the 42 degrees mark was breached, she said.

The heat wave conditions that have been prevailing in the state for the last week left its mark on most cities. On Wednesday, Akola recorded 45.3 degrees, the highest in the country, followed by Nagpur recording 44.6 degrees.

On Thursday, the state saw most of the districts record temperatures above 40 degrees.