A sudden and intense chill descended upon Kolkata on Saturday, with a sharp drop in daytime temperature leaving residents reaching for their woolens. The city experienced a dramatic weather shift as cool winds and cloud cover combined to create unseasonably cold conditions.
Mercury Takes a Nosedive
The maximum temperature in the city recorded a steep fall, plunging from 26 degrees Celsius on Friday to 20.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday. This represents a drop of more than 5 degrees within 24 hours. Interestingly, the minimum temperature remained steady at 16.2 degrees Celsius, which narrowed the gap between the day's high and low to a mere 4.5 degrees.
According to the private weather service Accuweather, the 'feels like' temperature on Saturday evening was around 17 degrees Celsius, making the chill even more perceptible.
Wind and Clouds: The Culprits Behind the Chill
The Regional Meteorological Centre explained the sudden change. A shift in wind direction brought in cool northeasterly and easterly winds, which carried moisture and a distinct cold bite. This phenomenon was amplified by a persistent cloud cover that blocked the sun's rays from late morning through the afternoon.
HR Biswas, deputy director-general of meteorology, stated, "The period when the sunray intensity is at its peak saw a cloud cover in Kolkata on Saturday. It kept the city cool and brought the maximum temperature down sharply." He added that the easterly winds, flowing in at a lower height from the direction of Bangladesh, made the chill feel more intense at ground level. The moisture content in these winds added a damp, penetrating feel to the cold.
Forecast: A Brief Respite Followed by More Cold
The relief from the cold will be short-lived. While the maximum temperature is expected to climb back to 25 degrees Celsius on Sunday with the minimum at 16 degrees Celsius, the icy grip will tighten again after Christmas.
Biswas warned, "From December 26, the minimum temperature could drop 2°C and plunge to 14°C. The drop is expected around Christmas and could occur a day early." The signature chilly northwesterly winds are set to make a comeback during this period.
This December is turning out to be exceptionally cold for Kolkata. The month has been chillier than usual, with the minimum temperature consistently hovering between 15°C and 16°C since the second week. It has already dipped below the 15-degree mark twice this month, touching 14.8°C and a low of 14.5°C. Weather scientists confirm that the average temperature for December so far is the lowest the city has seen in a decade.
Areas like Dum Dum and Salt Lake have often recorded temperatures a degree cooler than central Kolkata. The forecast for the coming week suggests cool and pleasant conditions will persist, with northerly winds returning after Christmas and minimums likely to stay around or just below the 15-degree mark until the year's end.
