Pune’s Early March Heatwave Nears 40°C, Raising Concerns

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Pune, 5th March 2025: The city and surrounding areas are experiencing unusually high temperatures in early March, with the mercury inching closer to the 40°C mark. On Monday, Lohgaon recorded a scorching 39.6°C, while on Tuesday, it dipped slightly to 38.6°C. Other areas, including Rajgurunagar (38.5°C), Talegaon, and Dudulgaon (both 38.4°C), also reported soaring temperatures.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune’s Shivajinagar recorded an average maximum temperature of 34.9°C in February, making it the hottest February in over a decade. On Tuesday, Shirur was the hottest location in the Pune region, recording a peak temperature of 37.9°C. Other areas, including Rajgurunagar, Dudulgaon, and Chinchwad, followed closely at 37.7°C.

Meanwhile, minimum temperatures showed significant variations across Pune. Talegaon recorded the lowest minimum temperature on Tuesday at 13.5°C, while Shivajinagar and Pashan registered 16°C and 16.5°C, respectively. In contrast, Lohgaon (21.4°C) and Chinchwad (21.8°C) experienced warmer nights.

Outside Pune, Solapur was the hottest place in Maharashtra on Tuesday, with a high of 39.4°C. The Vidarbha region also saw intense heat, with Chandrapur at 39°C, Akola at 38.5°C, and Bramhapuri at 38.2°C.

Meteorologists attribute the rising temperatures in urban areas to the urban heat island effect, where concrete structures and reduced vegetation trap heat.

“On Monday, Chinchwad (38.2°C), Lavale (38.1°C), and Wadgaonsheri (37.9°C) recorded higher temperatures than other parts of the city,” an IMD expert explained. “Even at night, areas like Lavale (23.9°C) and Wadgaonsheri (23.1°C) remained unusually warm.”

While temperatures slightly declined on Tuesday, IMD scientist S.D. Sanap noted that a major drop is unlikely. “Lohgaon touched 39.6°C on Monday but saw a slight dip to 38.5°C on Tuesday. We expect a marginal decrease in the coming days, but no significant relief is expected.”