Pune: After days of relentless rain, grey skies and unusually cool weather, the city is feeling the heat again as monsoon activity eases across the region.The maximum temperature at Shivajinagar rose to 31.2°C on Monday as against 30.5°C on Sunday, continuing a steady upward trend after plunging to 29.4°C on July 9 during the peak of the recent wet spell. Daytime temperatures have gradually risen from 30.5°C on July 10 to 30.6°C on July 11 and 30.5°C on July 12.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures are likely to hover between 32°C and 33°C from Tuesday to Friday, while minimum temperatures are expected to remain largely steady at 23°C-24°C.The rise in mercury comes as Pune’s skies undergo a noticeable transformation, with the latest IMD forecast pointing to mainly clear skies, with only partial cloudiness developing later in the day. “The increase in maximum temperatures is due to a reduction in rainfall activity and cloud cover. As the clouds thin out, more solar radiation reaches the surface, leading to a gradual rise in daytime temperatures. At present, no major weather system is influencing Maharashtra, which is why rainfall has temporarily reduced,” an IMD official said.The warming trend follows an exceptionally wet spell that drenched Pune district and the adjoining ghats with widespread heavy rainfall. Shivajinagar alone has recorded more than 470mm of rain this monsoon season so far. With the rains retreating for now, visibility has improved and longer sunny spells have returned — a welcome change for some, but also a reminder that Pune’s brief brush with cool, rain-soaked weather is giving way to warmer days once again.
