Kolkata witnessed a slight reprieve from the biting cold on Wednesday as the daytime temperature climbed after hitting the season's lowest point. However, the mercury continues to linger significantly below the normal mark, confirming the persistent winter spell over the city.
Temperature Swings and Meteorological Patterns
The maximum temperature in Kolkata rose by four notches to reach 22 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. This comes after it had plunged to the season's lowest of 18°C just a day earlier, on Tuesday. Despite this increase, the day's high remained 2.7 degrees below the normal average for this time of year. The city had endured three consecutive days with the maximum temperature staying below 20°C before this modest rise.
The minimum temperature, however, showed almost no movement. It registered a marginal increase to 10.3°C on Wednesday from 10.2°C on Tuesday. This reading is notably higher than January's lowest minimum in 13 years, which was recorded recently.
Fog, Sun, and the Forecast Ahead
The morning hours on Wednesday were shrouded in foggy layers and low clouds, a familiar sight for Kolkatans over the past several days. However, the sun managed to break through gradually by the afternoon. Meteorologists attributed the slight warming to a decrease in moisture levels, which caused the fog to thin out.
This relief is expected to be short-lived. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata forecasts that moisture levels will increase again by Friday. "While the fog condition is likely to be similar on Thursday, we are expecting increased moisture incursion by Friday. In that case, the maximum temperature will start dipping again, making the days colder," stated H R Biswas, head of the centre and a senior meteorologist.
Persistent Below-Normal Chill
The prevailing cold conditions are a result of a strong north-westerly wind combined with dense fog. While the wind pattern over the city has become mixed due to a cyclonic circulation over Bangladesh, introducing some easterly components and increasing moisture, the chill is firmly entrenched.
The maximum temperature has now remained below normal for 22 consecutive days. This pattern of persistent cold, which dominated throughout December, is now expected to continue for most of January. The Met office predicts that both day and night temperatures will stay below their usual averages for the foreseeable future.
For the next few days, the minimum temperature is expected to hover between 11°C and 12°C. As Biswas summarized, "Despite the temperature variation, both maximum and minimum temperatures will continue to stay below normal. The cold conditions will remain with slight improvement in the chill factor." Residents of Kolkata should, therefore, prepare for the winter bite to linger, with the blanket of fog likely making a comeback by the weekend.
