Nashik records season’s highest minimum; rain expected

Nashik: The district recorded a sharp rise in heat and humidity on Sunday, with the minimum temperature touching a season-high of 23.8°C, even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert for unseasonal rain and thunderstorms over the next 48 hours.The minimum temperature was 6.6°C higher than readings from 48 hours earlier, when it stood at 17.2°C, marking a dramatic weather shift as the morning chill completely disappeared. The temperature was also 3.2°C above the seasonal normal, the IMD data showed.Despite cloudy conditions through the day, Nashik recorded a maximum temperature of 39.4°C, around the same as April 12, and 1.4°C above normal. Weather data from the past week indicates a steady rise in both maximum and minimum temperatures across the district.In the broader North Maharashtra region, Jalgaon emerged as the hottest location, recording a maximum temperature of 41.6°C — 0.7 degree above normal — while the minimum temperature stood at 25°C, 0.9 degree higher than average.Amid the rising heat, the IMD issued a warning for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds on Monday (April 20) and Tuesday (April 21). The forecast also predicts unseasonal rainfall and cloudy conditions across parts of Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Nandurbar, Dhule and Jalgaon districts.In view of the adverse weather outlook, district administrations have urged farmers to take precautionary measures to protect harvested produce and standing crops from potential damage due to strong winds and rainfall.