At 14.9°C, Pune city wakes up to coolest October morning in 2 years, doctors say day-night temperature difference affecting health; Nashik coolest in Maharashtra

Pune: The city woke up to its coolest Oct morning in two years on Wednesday, with the minimum temperature dropping to 14.9°C, the lowest of the season so far. With the daytime maximum touching 32.9°C, the 18°C day-night temperature gap is coinciding with increased complaints of joint pain and muscle cramps, particularly at night, according to doctors.India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the fall in night temperatures to the dry, cold northwesterly winds and clear skies, which allowed greater radiational cooling. “Until Wednesday, dry and cold northwesterly winds were dominating, and clear skies were allowing radiational cooling, resulting in lower minimum temperatures,” said SD Sanap, scientist, IMD.“Till Oct 31, night temperatures are likely to be above normal because of moisture incursion associated with the movement of the tropical cyclone. Cloud cover will keep daytime temperatures lower, while night-time temperatures are expected to rise by 2-3°C,” he said.IMD forecast partly cloudy skies, with thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, light to moderate rain and gusty winds at isolated places in the Pune Ghats on Thursday.Shivajinagar’s minimum temperature fell from 17.4°C on Monday to 16.3°C on Tuesday and 14.9°C on Wednesday. The latest reading was the lowest for Oct since 2024, data showed. On Wednesday, Pashan recorded a minimum of 15°C, Lohegaon 16.7°C and Chinchwad 20.5°C. In Pune district, Haveli recorded 14.2°C and Shirur 14.3°C.Doctors said over the past two to three days, they had been observing night temperatures going down. “Patients are coming in with a lot of musculoskeletal issues, joint pains, and especially cramps at night, including calf and foot cramps. Over the last week, I have been getting quite a few patients with these complaints,” said Devendra Vartak, associate consultant, orthopaedics, KEM Hospital.Vartak said the early end of the rainy season, the surge in Oct heat and the subsequent drop in night temperatures had marked a sharp transition in weather conditions. He also flagged inadequate hydration as a possible concern, saying many people had reduced their water intake as temperatures changed. He said that there is also a huge difference between air-conditioned indoor environments and outdoor temperatures.Many people continue to rely on ACs before stepping out into the Oct heat, he said. Sudden changes between these environments could add to the temperature variation the body has to cope with. He added that the body could find it difficult to cope with a sudden, substantial change in temperature. “A day and night time temperature difference of around 10 degrees is fine; even 15 degrees may be manageable. But when it comes to 20 or 25 degrees, it can impact the body,” he said.Abhijit Agashe, orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon at Sahyadri Hospital, said he had seen a rise in complaints over the past week to 15 days, particularly among patients with inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.“Patients with inflammatory arthritis can experience flare-ups, with increased joint swelling and pain, making mornings particularly difficult. Those with osteoarthritis, especially of the knee, also report increased pain and reduced activity, though symptoms may ease as temperatures rise during the day. Inflammatory flare-ups may require medication,” he said.Agashe said temperature changes could bring corresponding changes in barometric pressure, contributing to joint stiffness. Lower temperatures may make joint-lubricating fluid less fluid, while reduced movement can further aggravate discomfort, particularly in osteoarthritis.