Kolkata Witnesses First Rainfall in Nearly Four Months
On Tuesday, Kolkata experienced a welcome respite from the dry spell as a partially cloudy sky and light to moderate showers swept across the city. This meteorological event marked the first instance of rainfall in close to four months, significantly impacting the local temperature readings.
Temperature Plunge and Meteorological Data
The rainfall resulted in a notable drop in temperatures, with the maximum temperature falling by 3.7 notches below the normal level. Specifically, the day temperature, which had been consistently above normal for the past six days—hovering between 30°C and 31°C—plunged to 26.8°C on Tuesday. This represents a sharp dip of 4.4 degrees from recent averages.
Additionally, the minimum temperature also decreased slightly, settling at 19.2°C, which is 0.3 degrees below normal. This brought it below the 20°C mark after two days of slightly higher readings.
Rainfall Measurements and Historical Context
The Alipore Meteorological Office recorded 6.3 mm of rainfall until late Tuesday evening. The last time Kolkata received rain was on October 30, during the monsoon retreat, when 27.8 mm was recorded. Historically, Kolkata has typically seen some rainfall in February, with exceptions in 2023 and 2018. For instance, last year, the city received 47.8 mm in February, including 47.7 mm on February 21 alone.
Weather Systems and Causes
This rainfall was triggered by a combination of meteorological factors. A warm and moist southerly and south-easterly wind from the Bay of Bengal injected moisture into the region over recent days. This, along with a trough line extending from Gangetic Bengal to north coastal Andhra, led to showers not only in Kolkata but also in several south Bengal districts, including Howrah, South 24 Parganas, and North 24 Parganas.
Forecast and Future Conditions
According to meteorologist HR Biswas, head of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata, this temperature dip is only temporary. He stated, "The cloud cover and the showers pushed the mercury down. The weather, however, will be dry in Kolkata from Wednesday, with no possibility of further rain. The mercury will start shooting up once more, but it is likely to hover around the normal mark in the next three to four days."
Met officials have indicated that the wind pattern is changing, with the city beginning to experience a dry westerly wind system. This shift means that moisture is no longer flowing in from the Bay of Bengal. As a result, even as temperatures rise, low humidity levels are expected to keep the weather pleasant and prevent it from becoming unbearable in the coming days.
The maximum temperature is projected to rise and reach the 30-degree mark by Wednesday, with the sky expected to be mostly clear. Over the next three to four days, temperatures are likely to stabilize around normal levels, offering residents a brief period of comfortable conditions before potential further changes.
