A fresh spell of winter chill is set to descend upon West Bengal just in time for the Christmas festivities, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a significant dip in temperatures starting this week. While a western disturbance had temporarily slowed the advance of the cold season, the mercury is now poised to fall across the state.
Fog Disrupts Visibility, Temperatures Fluctuate
Over the past day, dense fog significantly reduced visibility across several districts of Bengal, even as temperatures showed minor fluctuations. In South Bengal, Bardhaman recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 10.8 degrees Celsius. The northern plains saw Alipurduar register 9 degrees Celsius. The hill stations experienced the sharpest drop, with Darjeeling plunging to a chilly 4.8 degrees Celsius.
Kolkata's Alipore observatory logged a minimum of 15.2 degrees Celsius, which was 0.7 degrees above the normal range for this time. The weather office reported that moderate fog (visibility between 200-500 meters) affected districts including Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Paschim Bardhaman, Malda, and Jalpaiguri. Shallow fog (500m-1,000m) was observed in Coochbehar, Kolkata, Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas, Birbhum, and Bankura.
Christmas Week to Bring Sharp Temperature Drop
The IMD has indicated that the real winter bite will commence from the Christmas week. Post-December 25, minimum temperatures in South Bengal are likely to fall by one to two degrees Celsius. For Kolkata, this could mean the minimum temperature touching around 13 degrees Celsius, while hill stations like Darjeeling may see readings as low as 5 degrees Celsius.
Despite early expectations of a harsh winter driven by La Niña conditions and northerly winds, November remained unusually warm. A brief cold spell in early December also faded quickly. The current western disturbance has delayed the full onset of winter, but the fresh dip is now on the horizon.
Statewide Forecast and Commuter Advisory
The weather across Bengal is expected to remain dry on Monday, with a slight rise in daytime temperatures over the coming weekend. This may make mornings and evenings feel less chilly for a few days. Maximum and minimum temperatures in many parts are likely to hover around 23 and 15 degrees Celsius respectively.
However, the IMD has issued specific warnings for several districts. Dense fog with visibility potentially dropping below 200 meters is forecast for western districts and parts of North Bengal. Warnings are in place for Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, and Dakshin Dinajpur. Experts are advising early morning commuters to exercise extreme caution.
Here is a brief look at the expected minimum temperatures in key regions:
- Western districts (Purulia, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman): 11°C – 12°C
- North Bengal Hills (Darjeeling and surroundings): 6°C – 8°C
- North Bengal Plains (Malda and surroundings): 15°C – 17°C
While South Bengal continues to experience a relatively milder winter, North Bengal remains firmly in the grip of colder conditions. An IMD official stated, "The winter will gradually intensify across the southern districts after Christmas Day." Residents and visitors, especially those heading to the hills for the holidays, are advised to prepare for the impending cold wave.
