Nagpur, India: Nagpur recorded its lowest minimum temperature in December in the past five years on Sunday, with the mercury dropping to 7°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This made Nagpur the coldest city in Vidarbha and the second coldest in Maharashtra, after Ahmednagar, which recorded 6.4°C.

The drop in temperature is attributed to the northerly winds that have been sweeping across the region over the past few days. The 7°C temperature on Sunday marked the coldest recorded temperature in the city since 2020.

December is typically the coldest and driest month in Nagpur, with clear skies and warm days. However, this year, the presence of Cyclone Fengal caused cloudier conditions in the initial days, raising the minimum temperatures temporarily.

On Sunday, the IMD declared a cold wave in one or two areas of Vidarbha, with conditions expected to continue until Monday. However, temperatures are forecast to rise starting December 18, as the wind pattern shifts from northerly to easterly-southeasterly winds. This change will bring partial cloudiness, increasing minimum temperatures by 2-3°C.

Several cities in Vidarbha recorded temperatures below 10°C on Sunday, including Gondia (7.2°C), Wardha (7.4°C), Bhandara (8.0°C), Akola (9.6°C), and Bramhapuri (9.6°C). Cities like Gadchiroli (10.0°C), Amravati (10.5°C), Buldhana (10.3°C), and Chandrapur (10.6°C) had temperatures in the double digits.

In terms of maximum temperatures, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, and Yavatmal all recorded temperatures below 30°C. Akola was the hottest city in Vidarbha on Sunday, with a high of 31.8°C, followed by Bhandara (31.4°C), Amravati (31.2°C), and Bramhapuri (30.0°C).