Kolkata woke up to its coldest January morning in over a decade on Tuesday, as the mercury dipped to a chilling 10.2 degrees Celsius. This marked the lowest minimum temperature for the month in the last 13 years, sending a sharp winter shiver across the City of Joy.
Record-Breaking Chill Grips the City
The Regional Meteorological Centre confirmed that Tuesday's minimum of 10.2°C was 3.7 degrees below the normal mark for this time of year. The daytime offered little respite, with the maximum temperature also hitting a seasonal low of 18°C, which was a significant 6.7 degrees below normal. The last time Kolkata experienced a similar daytime chill was on December 29, 2025, when the maximum was 18.2°C.
Met scientist HR Biswas, head of the Kolkata centre, explained the cause. "A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, which is transforming into a depression, strengthened the dry and north-westerly wind speed at the lower level. This, in turn, pushed the mercury down further," he stated. The depression, located about 2,000 km away, is not expected to cause rain but is altering wind patterns on a large scale.
Cold Spell to Persist, Neighbouring Areas Colder
The Met office has forecast that the cold spell will continue for the next few days. Officials predict the minimum temperature in Kolkata will hover between 10°C and 11°C, while the maximum is likely to swing between 19°C and 20°C. A persistent foggy layer is preventing sunlight from warming the city during the day.
The chill was even more intense in neighbouring areas. In Dum Dum and Howrah, temperatures plunged below the 10°C mark, recording lows of 9.5°C and 9°C respectively. Salt Lake recorded 10.4°C. Other parts of south Bengal shivered too, with Sriniketan in Birbhum registering a plains-low of 6.2°C. The hills of Darjeeling recorded a near-freezing 1.5°C. The Met has predicted cold-wave conditions in isolated pockets of Birbhum and Burdwan for Wednesday.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
Before Tuesday, the minimum temperature had touched the 10-degree mark only three times in January over the past 13 years: 10.9°C in 2023 and 10.5°C in 2018. In comparison, the lowest last year was 12.3°C on January 11, while in 2024, it was 11.8°C. The all-time record low for January in Kolkata remains 6.7°C, recorded on January 20, 1899.
"The fog conditions will continue, including in Kolkata, albeit with a slight improvement," added Biswas. "For Kolkata, the minimum temperature will hover around the 10°C to 12°C mark for the next few days, while we expect the maximum to swing between 19°C and 22°C. But overall, the cold conditions will stay, as both the temperature parameters will remain below the normal mark for now." Residents are advised to brace for more such chilly mornings and wrap up warm as the unprecedented winter spell holds the region in its grip.
