After days of relentless heat, a shift in weather conditions is finally underway across West Bengal. Several districts have already received rainfall, accompanied by gusty winds. The weather office has indicated that temperatures in South Bengal may dip by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius over the week. For the remaining days of April, most districts are expected to witness scattered thunderstorms and rain.
The change comes as a relief, especially after the first phase of polling, when voters had to queue up under extreme heat. At least seven voters reportedly lost their lives due to the harsh conditions. However, the weather office has made it clear that such a situation is unlikely to repeat during the second phase. Overall, conditions are expected to remain comfortable for voters.
Kolkata weather outlook
Kolkata saw partly cloudy skies from Tuesday morning. While humidity may continue to cause discomfort, the likelihood of thunderstorms and rain is set to increase after the afternoon hours. Gusty winds, reaching speeds of 40 to 50 km per hour, may accompany the showers. The weather office noted that no major fluctuation is expected in the overall pattern, suggesting relatively stable and more tolerable conditions in the coming days.
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On Tuesday, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 28.5 degrees Celsius, which is 2.3 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature stood at 32.6 degrees Celsius, about 3.0 degrees below the seasonal average.
South Bengal: Storm activity likely
Several districts in South Bengal may experience unsettled weather on Tuesday. Areas such as Nadia, East and West Burdwan, and North and South 24 Parganas are likely to see nor'wester conditions later in the day, particularly during the afternoon or evening hours. The forecast suggests that the second phase of polling will take place under relatively pleasant weather, with chances of rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds developing as the day progresses.
This pattern is expected to continue beyond polling day as well, with many districts likely to receive rain through the weekend.
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North Bengal: Heavy rain warning
In North Bengal, rainfall activity is expected to persist throughout the week. Due to continuous showers, temperatures may fall by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
On Tuesday, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar. Districts including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Cooch Behar may also receive rain along with strong winds. The weather office has further indicated that rainfall intensity may increase from Wednesday, with heightened caution advised for Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar.
