Maharashtra Freezes: IMD Issues Cold Wave Alert; Vidarbha Shivers at 8°C as Pune, Mumbai Brace for Sharpest Dip

The biting chill of winter has intensified across Maharashtra, pushing minimum temperatures several degrees below normal and triggering a formal Cold Wave in Maharashtra alert by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for multiple districts. From the eastern plains of Vidarbha to the coastal metropolis of Mumbai, the state is bracing for what is expected to be the sharpest and most widespread cold spell of the season, with the chill peaking between December 9 and 12.

Vidarbha Shivers: Gondia and Nagpur Record Season’s Lowest

The eastern region of Vidarbha has emerged as the epicentre of the cold snap. Cold wave conditions are currently confirmed in the region, with minimum temperatures plummeting to alarming lows.

As of Tuesday morning, the city of Gondia recorded the state’s lowest minimum temperature at 8.6°C, closely followed by Nagpur cold wave conditions with a reading of 8.8°C. These figures represent a departure of more than 4°C below the seasonal average, fulfilling the meteorological criteria for an official cold wave.

• Vidarbha Coldest City: Gondia (8.6°C)
• Other Key Lows: Amravati (10.6°C) and Wardha (11.2°C).

The IMD has issued a Yellow Alert for East Vidarbha, cautioning residents in districts like Wardha, Bhandara, and Gondia to take necessary thermal precautions as the dry, northerly winds continue to push the mercury down.

Cold Wave Alert Spreads to Pune, Marathwada, and Nashik

The intense cold is now sweeping into central and western Maharashtra, with the IMD projecting the extension of cold wave conditions to isolated pockets of Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada between December 11 and 12.

Pune Minimum Temperature Drop Imminent

Major urban centres are set for a sustained dip into the single-digit temperature Maharashtra range. Pune, which has seen temperatures hover around 11°C in the Shivajinagar area, is forecast to see minimum temperatures fall further over the next 48 hours. Isolated pockets in the Pune district, particularly the Ghat regions, are under a cold wave watch.

North Maharashtra on Alert

The North Maharashtra belt, known for its extreme winter lows, is already battling severe cold. Districts like Dhule, Nashik, and Jalgaon are currently under a cold wave alert (Dec 9-11). Dhule lowest temperature readings have consistently been among the lowest in the state over the past week, indicating the severity of the incoming cold front in this region.

Mumbai Braces for Sub-18°C Winter

The coastal capital is not immune to the chill. The minimum temperature in Mumbai’s Santacruz observatory already dropped to 18.4°C on Monday. IMD officials forecast that the influx of strong northerly winds will continue to drive the temperature down, predicting the Mumbai Winter Forecast could see the mercury touching 16°C in the city by December 13. This drop, while still above the technical cold wave criteria for coastal stations, marks a significant return to a bracing winter climate after a brief period of warmer nights.

Agricultural Impact and Precautions

The plummeting temperatures pose a mixed challenge for the state’s crucial agricultural sector.

While the low temperatures are generally considered beneficial for rabi crops like wheat and chickpea, sensitive horticultural produce is at risk. Farmers, particularly in the Nashik-Pune grape-growing belt, are advised to exercise extreme caution.

• Crop Damage: Weather-sensitive vegetables, including gourds and okra, face stunted growth, lower yields, and increased susceptibility to fungal and pest attacks due to the cold stress.
• Official Advisory: The IMD’s agromet advisory recommends that farmers undertake light and frequent surface or sprinkler irrigation during the evening hours. This measure helps protect crops from cold injury by releasing latent heat into the atmosphere.
• Horticulture: Grape growers are advised to irrigate their vineyards to prevent fruit cracking, and banana farmers should cover bunches with perforated plastic bags for thermal protection.

Citizens across the state are advised to avoid prolonged morning exposure, wear adequate thermal layering, and ensure consumption of hot fluids to mitigate health risks associated with the sudden and widespread cold wave. The peak severity is expected to last until the weekend before a marginal increase in temperatures is forecast.