“There is a possibility of rain in the state by the end of the week. Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, Paschim Medinipur and Paschim Bardhman are likely to receive rain on Thursday and Friday,” an official said.

Apart from the five districts, the Met office also said that the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong are likely to receive rain and snowfall from Thursday till Monday.

The weather department attributed the rain to a vortex in the upper atmosphere of Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal and winds entering the state from the east. “The combination of factors can create a conducive atmosphere for the formation of water vapor and rainfall,” the official said.

“There is no chance of rain in Kolkata for now, but there will be fog in the morning. Temperatures will not change much in the state capital for the next few days,” the official added.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore, the minimum temperature in Kolkata from December 23 to December 31 ranged between 16 -17 degrees Celsius.