Cold Wave Conditions Over Maharashtra: Relief Likely Soon
Satellite Image, Courtesy: mosdac.gov.in
The landlocked sub-divisions of Maharashtra have been inflicted with cold wave conditions. Moderate cold has gripped almost the entire north–south stretch of Madhya Maharashtra from Malegaon–Nashik to Sholapur–Jeur. Season’s lowest single-digit temperatures have been recorded across the state, dominated by Madhya Maharashtra. The coastal belt, as usual, has registered night temperatures in the high teens, yet these are also below normal by 3°–4°C. The capital city Mumbai (Santacruz) recorded a minimum of 17.4°C, about 4°C below the average and a drop of 1.5°C from the previous day. This is the lowest temperature of the month so far. Further fall is likely to be arrested.
The cool winds blowing down the slopes of the northern mountains and the foothills of Punjab & Haryana are triggering cold wave conditions in some pockets of the northern plains. The seasonal anticyclone over Central Pakistan and West Rajasthan is fanning these chilly winds further south, sweeping across southern parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and large parts of Maharashtra. Madhya Maharashtra, being the closest to this cold stream, is facing the brunt. Jalgaon and Jeur have plunged to a low of 7°C, about 7°–8°C below normal, subjecting the region to cold wave conditions and severe conditions in some pockets as well.
The locations observing single-digit temperatures, about 5°–8°C below average, include large parts of Madhya Maharashtra and isolated places in Marathwada and Vidarbha. Cold wave conditions are declared when the minimum temperature drops to ≤10°C and the departure from normal is 4.5°C or more. A departure of 6.5°C or more invites severe cold wave conditions over the area. The minimum temperatures over some stations and their departures from normal were: Pune – 9.4°C (–5.6°), Nashik – 9.2°C (–5.4°), Jeur (Sholapur) – 7°C (–7.5°), Ahilya Nagar – 8.4°C (–5.3°), Baramati – 8.9°C (–6°), Jalgaon – 7.1°C (–7.7°), Malegaon – 9.6°C (–5.5°), Gondia – 9.6°C (–6.2°), Yeotmal – 9.6°C (–7.4°).
The winter chill is likely to ease out from most parts of Maharashtra in a couple of days. The secondary anticyclonic circulation is likely to get activated over parts of Odisha, South Chhattisgarh, and the North Telangana region. Also, the low-pressure area over the Southwest Bay of Bengal will travel to the Southeast Arabian Sea, across the South Peninsula. Additionally, a fresh low-pressure area is expected to come up over the central parts of the South and Southeast Bay of Bengal around 21st–22nd Nov. Under the combined influence of these systems, the wind pattern will change over Maharashtra. The nippy winds streaming across Maharashtra and South Madhya Pradesh will get arrested. Winds in the lower levels will turn easterly or southeasterly over Maharashtra, covering central parts of the state and blocking the fierce cold from the northern plains.
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