Kolkata residents continued to experience a distinct winter chill on Thursday, as both day and night temperatures remained firmly below the season's average. Despite a minor uptick, the mercury failed to reach normal levels, with clear skies and persistent winds contributing to the cold conditions.
Temperature Details and Meteorological Factors
The city recorded a maximum temperature of 21.9 degrees Celsius, which was a significant 2.8 degrees below the normal mark. The night was similarly chilly, with the minimum temperature settling at 11.6 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees below normal. Weather officials attributed this to dry north-westerly and northerly winds prevailing at the lower tropospheric level.
"There will be no large change in the day and night temperatures for now. With both the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to remain below the normal mark, the cold feeling will stay," explained a Met department official. This wind pattern is expected to dominate the region's weather for the upcoming week.
Regional Weather Snapshot and System Impact
The cold wave was not confined to the metropolis. In the hills, Darjeeling saw the mercury plunge to a frigid 1 degree Celsius. Across the plains of south Bengal, Sriniketan was the coldest spot at 7 degrees Celsius, while neighbouring Howrah recorded a low of 9 degrees Celsius.
Interestingly, the Met office clarified that a deep depression active over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal and the East Equatorial Indian Ocean will have no direct impact on Bengal's weather. The state's current conditions are driven purely by the continental wind flow.
Short-Term Forecast for Kolkata
Citizens should brace for a continuation of the cold conditions. The weather department has forecast no significant variation in temperature over the next few days. The typical Kolkata winter pattern of clear skies, morning fog, and a persistent, chilly wind is set to hold steady, making warm layers essential for the foreseeable future.
