Mercury on upswing in build-up to likely wet spell
Times of India | 16 January 2024
Kolkata: The mercury has started climbing up again in the build-up to a possible two- to three-day shower spell between Tuesday and Thursday, which could pull the minimum temperature over 17° Celsius by the end of the week.
About 15 mm rain is likely in Kolkata between Wednesday and Thursday. North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Nadia, Hooghly and Howrah may also receive rain on these two days.
While the rains, induced by western disturbances, are set to push up the minimum temperature, coinciding with the the onset of warmer easterly winds carrying the moisture, the maximum temperature may fall further from the middle of the week.
For the majority of winter, about a 10-degree difference between maximum and minimum temperature is quite typical, but according to RMC director GK Das, the difference could fall to about three to four degrees by end of the week. “The days may continue to feel cold for next two to three days as the maximum is set to fall further to as low as 20° Celsius,” he said. The maximum temperature has been between 24 and 25° Celsius for most of the season until Friday, when it fell to 22° Celsius. On Monday, the maximum temperature fell to 20.2° Celsius.
The fog that gripped the city on Monday may continue for another day or two. On Monday, visibility fell to 50m in morning. Skies may clear up from Tuesday afternoon. The maximum and minimum temperatures may remain around 21°C and 14°C, respectively.