Residents of South Bengal are bundling up against an intense cold spell, with temperatures plunging to single digits. On the morning of Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the mercury dropped to a chilling 9.8 degrees Celsius in Dum Dum, a key area of Kolkata. The city's Alipore observatory recorded a minimum of 10.3°C, continuing the trend from Monday's low of 10.2°C.
IMD Forecast: Colder Days and Dense Fog Ahead
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a stern warning, predicting that the biting cold will intensify further. Temperatures across several districts are expected to fall by an additional 3 to 4 degrees Celsius in the coming days. A weather department source explained that a well-marked low-pressure area over the Southeast Bay of Bengal, likely to become a depression, combined with a cyclonic circulation over Tripura, is channeling cold northwesterly winds into the state.
This system will ensure that both day and night temperatures remain significantly below normal. For the next four days, minimum temperatures are likely to be 2°C to 4°C below average statewide. South Bengal's maximum temperature will stay 3°C to 5°C below normal for three days, while North Bengal may see a more severe drop of 4°C to 6°C.
District-Wise Alerts: Cold Wave and Visibility Drops
The IMD has activated specific warnings for various districts. A 'cold wave' warning is in effect for Birbhum and East Burdwan on Wednesday and Thursday, January 7-8. By Friday, similar severe conditions are expected to grip Murshidabad, Nadia, and West Burdwan.
Adding to the discomfort, dense fog is forecast for Wednesday in Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, and North 24 Parganas. Visibility in eight districts could plummet dramatically, falling between 199 and 50 metres, prompting the IMD to issue a Yellow warning. Kolkata and all South Bengal districts are expected to remain foggy until Saturday.
In North Bengal, regions including Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar will experience 'Cold Day' conditions until January 8. The IMD also forecasts a possibility of light rain in North Bengal and scattered rain or snowfall in Darjeeling.
Public Response and Safety Measures
Authorities are taking the conditions seriously. The Kolkata Police have issued a 'Fog Safety Alert', urging extreme caution on major roads like EM Bypass, Red Road, and Diamond Harbour Road, where visibility has been reduced to as low as 200 metres. They advise drivers to use fog lights and avoid high beams.
Meanwhile, the public has met the unusual chill, which is about 6.7°C below normal, with a mix of resilience and humor. Social media platforms are flooded with memes comparing the intense cold to a 'snowfall-like' experience, even as the IMD predicts actual snow in the higher reaches of Darjeeling and Sikkim.
The meteorological department anticipates dry weather with no rain for the next seven days, meaning the cold and foggy conditions are set to dominate the region for the remainder of the week.
