Spring is usually marked by a lingering touch of winter, but this year the transition has been abrupt. Since the onset of Falgun, winter has effectively withdrawn from the state, and temperatures have begun climbing steadily. In Kolkata, the maximum temperature is hovering around 30C, while the minimum on Tuesday was recorded at 17.2C, according to the weather department.
The winter feel now exists more on the calendar than in the air. The Met Office has indicated a strong likelihood of further increases in both day and night temperatures between Wednesday and Thursday. The gradual weakening of northwesterly cold winds is driving this upward trend. At best, the state may experience a brief spell of pleasant spring conditions until February 23–24. After that, a sharper rise in heat is likely.
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By next Wednesday night, temperatures in Kolkata could rise by another 2C. Across the districts of South Bengal, minimum temperatures are expected to remain around 17C. There is currently no forecast of rainfall in the region.
In contrast, while winter has faded in South Bengal, light fog will continue to dominate parts of North Bengal. Reduced visibility is expected in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar due to fog. In the hilly areas of North Bengal, night temperatures are likely to stay around 9C. No rainfall has been predicted there either.
