Kolkata residents woke up to an unusually sharp winter bite on Tuesday as the city recorded its coldest January day in the last twelve years. The mercury plunged to a minimum of 10.2 degrees Celsius, a significant drop that sent people scrambling for their warmest woollens.
A Deep Chill Grips the City and Region
This temperature is nearly seven degrees below the seasonal average for Kolkata during this time. The chill was not confined to the capital city alone. Across South Bengal, temperatures took a sharp dive. Sriniketan in Birbhum district experienced a freezing 6.2°C, while Howrah recorded a low of 9°C. In the northern part of the state, the hill station of Darjeeling saw the thermometer drop to 3.2°C.
Despite the intense cold, weather officials clarified that this has not broken the city's all-time records. The lowest minimum temperature ever recorded in Kolkata for January remains 6.7°C from January 20, 1899. Since the year 2000, the record was 9.0°C on January 9, 2013. Tuesday's 10.2°C does not feature among the city's top ten lowest January temperatures.
IMD Forecast: Fog, Clear Skies, and a Continuing Chill
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the severe cold to active north-westerly winds. While the conditions are notably chilly, the IMD has not officially declared a 'cold wave' for Kolkata, as that requires the minimum temperature to drop further. However, the cold conditions are expected to persist until January 7, with a likely further dip of about 2 degrees Celsius over the next two days.
The forecast for Kolkata suggests shallow to moderate fog in the morning, turning into mist later in the forenoon. The afternoon is expected to have mainly clear skies. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 18°C and 10°C, respectively.
Dense Fog Alert and Travel Disruptions
The IMD has issued a dense fog alert for several districts in West Bengal. In the southern parts, districts like Murshidabad, Nadia, and North Dinajpur are on alert where visibility may reduce to below 50 meters. In north Bengal, the sub-Himalayan districts of Coochbehar and Jalpaiguri are also under a dense fog warning.
This dense fog has already started to impact morning commutes, with reports of slower traffic on major highways. For the higher altitudes of Sikkim and Darjeeling, the weather office has forecast the possibility of light rain or snow.
Health Advisory for Vulnerable Groups
In light of the harsh weather, health officials and the IMD have issued an advisory, especially for the elderly and individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis. They are advised to avoid outdoor exposure during the early morning hours when fog and pollutant concentration in the air is at its peak.
The sudden and severe dip in temperature across West Bengal marks a significant weather event for the region, disrupting daily life and prompting authorities to urge caution.
