Forget air conditioners; even a slow ceiling fan now feels refreshing. A short motorbike ride brings a hint of winter-like chill. This is far from what Boishakh usually feels like.
Instead of battling sticky heat and humidity, Kolkata is enjoying an unusually pleasant spell. The sudden change has left residents both relieved and curious. From tea stalls to office spaces, conversations have shifted from election chatter to one question: has the city seen such a cool Boishakh before?
According to the India Meteorological Department, May 1 recorded a minimum temperature of 19.8 degrees Celsius in Kolkata. The maximum temperature stood at 28.2 degrees, around 7.5 degrees below normal. For a month known for intense summer heat, such readings are uncommon and noticeable.
Records show similar rare cool spells
While the weather feels unusual, it is not entirely new.
On May 3, 2003, Kolkata’s temperature dropped to 17.9 degrees Celsius, about 9 degrees below normal. A similar situation was recorded on May 3, 1987, when the temperature touched 19.8 degrees Celsius, matching current levels.
These rare instances show that Boishakh can occasionally bring unexpected relief.
Kolkata enjoys a rare cool Boishakh as rain brings unexpected relief ANI The shift in weather is linked to intense rainfall activity over the past two days.
Soon after the recent voting phase ended, heavy rain and gusty winds swept across South Bengal, including Kolkata. Within hours, temperatures dropped sharply by 8 to 10 degrees Celsius.
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Wednesday’s maximum of 32.2 degrees fell to the low 20s, while minimum temperatures dropped by more than 7 degrees overnight.
Rainfall continued into Thursday evening, further cooling the city. Kolkata recorded around 33 mm of rainfall, along with wind speeds reaching up to 55 km per hour.
Weather experts attribute this to a squall line phenomenon, which involves intense thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds. This system has temporarily disrupted the usual summer pattern.
