Cold wave persisting over Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan has extended reach to run through northern parts of Maharashtra. North Madhya Maharashtra, few parts of Marathwada and a large section of Vidarbha have dipped below the normal by 4-6°C. Many places have plunged to single digit minima against their normal range of mid teens. Nippy conditions are expected to last during this week and may even extend further to make ‘cold start’ in February.
In Madhya Maharashtra : Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Nasik and Pune are listed among the lowest few in the past 24hr. Ahmednagar(9°C), Jalgaon(8.5°C), Nasik(10°C) and Pune with 9.8°C are much colder than the southern locations of Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur and Sholapur. Aurangabad with 8.8°C and Parbhani at 10°C have stayed 4°C and 5°C under their average value at this time. List of stations in Vidarbha runs large with single digit minimum temperature.
Deviation from the normal mercury level is the largest in this pocket. To name a few : Nagpur- 8.3°C( -6°), Gondia- 8.8°C(-6°), Buldhana-8.8°C(-7°), Akola-9.3°C(-6°) and Wardha- 9.4°C(-6) are witnessing cold wave conditions, albeit mostly moderate and intense in few pockets. Even, the day temperature is running below the normal by 4-5°C.
Northern plains are observing excruciating cold and parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are bearing the brunt of sting. Favorable winds are taking it further across the eastward running Satpura hills and discontinuous range of Vindhya mountains in the central parts. Severe cold from central parts of Madhya Pradesh is breaching the barrier to reach Vidarbha. These conditions are expected to last during the remaining days of January and cross over further in to 1st week of February.
The seasonal anticyclone over Rajasthan and West Madhya Pradesh has been pushed much south of its normal position. No active western disturbance is expected to stop this onslaught. Days are expected to be pleasantly warm and night/early morning continue to be nippy.