Just when it seemed that winter was set to bow out after a brief reprieve, cold has returned with a vengeance in Kolkata and parts of Bengal. After the city’s minimum temperature hovered around 15°C on Sunday, the mercury tumbled markedly overnight. On Monday, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 12.4°C, marking the return of winter at the closing phase of Poush.
The mercury is expected to remain largely stable on Monday and Tuesday, the weather office said. But the mercury is likely to fall significantly on January 14, Makar Sankranti. The cold spell is forecast to continue at least until January 23, coinciding with Saraswati Puja. From Gangasagar Mela to Makar Sankranti celebrations and pitha-puli festivities, the festive period is set to unfold under distinctly wintry conditions.
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Bay depression and revival of northerly winds
Meteorologists explained that the very deep depression over the Bay of Bengal would not affect Bengal directly. But its pull drew moisture-laden clouds over South Bengal briefly, weakening the cold northerly winds temporarily. Once the clouds disappeared, those winds started becoming active, causing a sharp drop in temperature that has been felt since Sunday night.
A Western disturbance is currently stationed above North Pakistan and the adjoining hilly regions, thus deciding the weather. The temperature in Kolkata ranges from 12°C to 15°C, with further reduction to be expected beginning Tuesday. The further decline will be on Wednesday, when Poush Sankranti is being observed.
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Fog to persist, no rain forecast
Apart from the cold, fog will continue to affect many areas of the state quite tightly. The sky will be clear in Kolkata, but some districts may experience low visibility due to fog in the mornings. Dense fog warnings have been issued for North Bengal districts, including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and North Dinajpur, and cold day conditions may also prevail.
There are no rains expected in the forecast for Bengal in the coming days. On average, it is expected to remain dry with fog in the morning that clears out as the days pass by.
