Kolkata recorded intermittent rain (5.8 mm) in the last 24 hours, but the weather department on Thursday said the unseasonal rain was unlikely to play spoilsport during the upcoming Holi festival and the IPL match in the city.

However, the rain coupled with the wind blowing from colder regions brought down the temperature in the city.

Squally wind gusting up to 40 km/hr prevailed in almost all parts of South Bengal including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Howrah, Kolkata, Hooghly, Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore, Bankura, West Burdwan, East Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Nadia.

Kolkata recorded its second-coldest March on Wednesday with the maximum temperature plummeting to 21 degree Celsius, which is about seven degree Celsius below normal. The city had experienced its coldest March day in recent years on March 13, 2003 (20.3 degree Celsius).

“There’s a very low chance for the rain to affect the Kolkata Knight Riders versus Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL match scheduled on Saturday and the Holi festival on Monday,” said a weather expert.

He added that the city will get some relief from Friday onwards and the maximum temperature might rise to 26 degree Celsius with the humidity touching the 98-per cent mark.

Light rain is expected to continue in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Murshidabad, and Nadia.

Meanwhile, a ‘Yellow alert’ for thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rain, and gusty wind (30-40 km/h) has been sounded for North Bengal districts including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar till next Monday.

The maximum and minimum temperatures in the hill resort of Darjeeling were 9 degree Celsius and 7 degree Celsius, respectively, on Wednesday.