Aurangabad continues to have above normal temperature

AURANGABAD

: The city, which reported minimum of around 13.3 degree Celsius temperature on Saturday, witnessed slight

drop in mercury level

even if temperature was found to be still above normal range by nearly 1 degree Celsius.

The met department has predicted that the minimum temperature could record gradual rise over a period of next few days. The mercury level in the city could reach upto 15 degree Celsius by end of next week, it was said.

B B Bhosale, director of extension education at Parbhani-based Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, said the

weather

systems would have no adverse impact on Rabi crops, except gram pea.

"The rise in temperature above normal could cause menace of pod borer in gram pea," he said.

It may be noted that at 7.6 degree Celsius, the city had recorded lowest mercury level of the current

winter

season, on January 12.

"It became too cold and suddenly hot then. Though mercury is dropping, the temperature is still above normal," said Tushar Kamte, a resident of Rana Nagar area.

Swapnil Khose, a college student, said winter was perhaps coming to an end. "The winter seems to be on its last leg. It is not that cold as expected despite January is on," he said.