A severe cold wave is sweeping Bengal, with temperatures plunging sharply across both South and North Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also warned that the state is unlikely to see relief from the biting cold in the coming days.
On Monday, Kolkata saw a minimum temperature of 10.2°C, which is 3.7°C below normal. The minimum and maximum temperatures for the city in the next few days are expected to range around 11°C and 19°C, respectively, according to the Alipore Regional Meteorological Centre. No major change in temperatures has been forecast, but a slight drop in temperatures cannot be ruled out.
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Cold spell to persist across South Bengal
The IMD has said that the cold spell will persist in South Bengal for at least the next seven days. The cold spell is likely to be more intense over districts like Bankura, Birbhum, West Burdwan, Nadia, Murshidabad, and East Burdwan. The minimum temperature may dip up to five degrees below normal in western South Bengal. Early morning dense fog is also likely in several districts, and visibility is poor in many places.
North Bengal braces for snowfall and fog
North Bengal is also likely to face further decreases in temperatures, with Malda, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur experiencing severe cold. The hilly regions, especially Darjeeling, may also see snowfall along with light showers, while Kalimpong might also face rainfall. The morning might be foggy in Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, and North Dinajpur, and the visibility might be 50 to 199 meters. The cold day conditions might be observed over North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda.
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The dry northerly winds wafting over the province are causing the sudden drop in temperature. Since there is nothing to halt the flow of the winds, the entire South and North Bengal will continue to experience the grip of the extreme cold for the coming days.
