Pune cold weather forecast: Will temperature remain low on December 31, New year? Check IMD's prediction

Pune is slowly stepping out of its intense December chill. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a minimum temperature of of 11°C on Tuesday, with further warming expected as the city moves into the New Year. According to IMD, the minimum temperature is likely to touch around 12°C on January 1, 2026, signalling a clear shift in weather conditions.

Nights get warmer after record-cold December

The rise in temperatures comes after Pune recorded one of its coldest early Decembers in years. IMD officials said the city saw the coldest first fortnight of December in a decade, along with the highest number of single-digit minimum temperature nights since 2014. Data shows that the average minimum temperature between December 1 and 15 stood at 10.66°C, much lower than the same period over the past 10 years.

Pune Cold Weather Forecast

IMD said that the sharp cold earlier this month was driven by persistent northerly and northwesterly winds, clear night skies and low humidity, which intensified radiation cooling and caused steep overnight temperature drops. Conditions, however, began changing after December 15.


“The marginally increased humidity levels and slightly reduced impact of northwesterly winds will lead to an increase in minimum temperature. We can expect double-digit minimum temperature for the next few days,” said a senior official of IMD told TOI.

Pune Weather: Haze now, clearer skies later

While residents may notice haze over city areas on Tuesday, IMD expects mainly clear skies from Wednesday onwards, adding to the feeling that winter’s harshest phase is over.

Cold wave and fog grip other regions

Even as Pune warms up, winter remains severe in parts of north and central India. A cold wave alert has been issued for isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand over the next 48 hours. Dense to very dense fog is expected during the night and morning hours over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh till December 31. Similar conditions may continue in east Uttar Pradesh till January 1, 2026.

Western disturbance to bring rain and snow

IMD also warned of changing weather in the hills. Officials said rainfall and snowfall are likely as “a fresh western disturbance is slated to hit the western Himalayan region starting Dec 30, extending to the adjoining plains by Dec 31.” The system is expected to impact Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Muzaffarabad between December 30 and January 2, 2026. “Light to moderate scattered rainfall and snowfall over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Muzaffarabad are likely between Dec 30 and Jan 2, 2026. That part, the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are also likely may see isolated precipitation in the period,” the official added.