Kolkata Shivers as Temperature Takes a Sharp Dip
Kolkata residents woke up to a distinctly colder morning on Monday. The city's minimum temperature plunged by 3.6 degrees Celsius, settling at a chilly 12.4°C. This sudden drop signals the return of winter's grip after a brief respite.
More Cold Weather on the Horizon
The Regional Meteorological Centre has a clear message for the city. The week ahead will bring even cooler conditions. Weather scientist Sourish Bandyopadhyay explained the forecast in simple terms.
"We will now see a marginal drop in mercury," Bandyopadhyay stated. "By January 15, it could drop to 11°C. Over the next one week, the minimum temperature will hover around 11°C-12°C."
This prediction follows Sunday's minimum of 15°C, showing a rapid cooling trend.
What's Causing the Chill?
Weather experts point to two main factors driving the temperature down.
- Intensifying Northwesterly Winds: These cold winds are set to gain strength over the next three to four days. A brief interruption by clouds from a southern low-pressure system has passed, allowing the winds to resume their flow.
- Atmospheric Moisture: The presence of moisture in the middle and upper layers of the atmosphere is also contributing to the cold sensation.
The maximum temperature is also expected to fall. It could slide from Monday's 23.7°C to around 22°C this week. Bandyopadhyay noted that while it could potentially drop to 20°C or lower, no firm indications of that exist yet.
A Season of Consistent Cold
This winter has been notably severe for Kolkata. Since mid-December, temperatures have consistently remained below normal levels. The season's lowest point so far was 10.2°C on January 6. That reading marked the coldest temperature the city has experienced in thirteen years.
Weather scientists attribute this prolonged chill to a specific meteorological pattern. "There were fewer systems that could block the northwesterly," one expert explained. "The chilly winds were flowing in more steadily than previous years, keeping the mercury below the normal mark."
With clear skies expected to continue, these winds will persist. The cold conditions are likely to remain across south Bengal for the coming week, wrapping the region in a sustained winter embrace.
