Pune: As Diwali approaches, Punekars are not only preparing for festivities but also beginning to experience the early arrival of winter.

For the first time this season, Pune’s minimum temperature dropped to 16°C on Saturday (October 26), hinting at the winter chill’s imminent arrival in the city.

The mild drop in temperature suggests that Punekars can look forward to enjoying cooler weather during the Diwali celebrations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that minimum temperatures in the city will likely remain between 17°C and 18°C over the coming week, while the maximum temperatures should hold steady between 33°C and 34°C.

Rainfall has mostly subsided, and the intense October heat has also reduced significantly. Consequently, cooler conditions can now be felt from the evening through early morning, though some daytime warmth remains.

Meteorologists expect the coolness to increase, and further temperature drops are anticipated post-November 1.

Elsewhere across Maharashtra, winter’s arrival is also being felt, particularly in central regions where minimum temperatures have dipped, giving way to fog and dew in the mornings.

With clear skies and bright sun during the day, the midday heat remains strong. Nevertheless, the combination of early morning chill and high afternoon temperatures marks the transitional period from the post-monsoon season to winter.

In addition, the recent "DANA" cyclone in the Bay of Bengal dissipated after reaching land. Currently, a low-pressure area remains active over northern Odisha, though it is weakening.

Cyclonic winds prevail over the southwestern Arabian Sea, and a low-pressure belt has formed from Lakshadweep to northern Tamil Nadu.

Santacruz recorded the state’s highest temperature of 35.6°C over the past 24 hours, while Mahabaleshwar saw the lowest at 15°C, confirming that cooler temperatures are gradually setting in across Maharashtra.