Kolkata residents bundled up in warm clothes as the city experienced its coldest morning of the season so far on Sunday. The mercury dipped to a chilling 14.4 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest minimum temperature recorded this winter.
Temperature Takes a Sharp Dip
The sudden cold snap saw a significant drop of around 2 degrees Celsius from the previous day's reading. While this figure is only 0.7 degrees below the normal mark for this time of year, the change was starkly felt because the minimum temperature had remained above normal for the preceding four days. The maximum temperature also remained subdued, with Sunday's high at 20.9°C, which is a substantial 5.2 degrees lower than normal.
Fog and Wind Patterns Behind the Chill
According to weather scientist Sourish Bandyopadhyay from the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata, a key factor behind the cold days has been a persistent, thick layer of fog in the higher atmospheric levels. "While this fog cover is not significantly visible on the surface level, its thickness and persistence in the higher layer is responsible for the mercury dip," Bandyopadhyay explained. This fog blanket had pushed Saturday's maximum temperature down to 20.7°C.
Currently, the city is experiencing predominantly northerly winds, though not at high speeds. The chill-bearing northwesterly winds have also not been very strong, indicating that other factors like the fog are playing a major role in the current weather pattern.
What's Next: A Brief Respite Before Christmas Chill
The Meteorological office has forecast a slight rise in temperatures for Monday and Tuesday, offering Kolkatans a short break from the intense cold. However, the relief will be temporary. Experts predict that the cold wave will intensify again as Christmas approaches.
"While 14.4°C on Sunday is the lowest temperature this season, we can expect a slight rise in the next two days before it starts dipping again to reach the 14°C mark by Christmas," stated Bandyopadhyay. He further added that there is a possibility of the temperature falling below the 14°C mark in the days following Christmas. The thick fog layer is expected to gradually reduce in both thickness and duration.
The cold wave was not confined to Kolkata alone. Other parts of West Bengal recorded even lower temperatures:
- Sriniketan shivered at 10.7°C.
- In the North Bengal plains, Alipurduar recorded 9°C.
- The hill station of Darjeeling saw the mercury fall to 5°C.
With the promise of colder days ahead, citizens are advised to continue taking necessary precautions and keep their winter wear handy.
