Real-feel temp 50°C, Kol may keep sweating as monsoon moves slow
Times of India | 8 June 2024
Kolkata: In the absence of rain over the past few days, Kolkata has been reeling under scorching heat and high humidity, which have made it extremely uncomfortable, especially during the day. While the maximum temperature on Friday was 37.1°C, only two notches above normal, the real feel touched 50°C. The Met office sees no immediate rain respite and the southwest monsoon, which is moving sluggishly, has not made much progress after its arrival in north Bengal.
Weathermen are keeping tabs on systems like a cyclonic circulation or a low-pressure area, which are likely to develop over the Bay of Bengal over the next two-three days. The development of such systems can hasten the onset of monsoon. Till the rains arrive, Kolkata will remain hot and humid, said the Regional Meteorological Centre.
“The chances of rain in the city are low. Even if it rains, it will be due to local thundercloud formation and the thundershowers will be isolated and brief. This may not be sufficient to pull the mercury down,” said H R Biswas, head of weather section, RMC.
On Friday, Alipore recorded a maximum relative humidity of 85%. Local thunderclouds had triggered intense rain in parts of New Town on Thursday, but despite thunderclaps during the same time, Kolkata was left dry with only light drizzle in some areas. “Though the mercury will not shoot up abruptly, the high moisture content is making the weather very uncomfortable,” Biswas said.
Weathermen have also not ruled out heatwave conditions in isolated pockets in south Bengal, in districts like Burdwan, West Midnapore and Purulia.
Weathermen estimate monsoon to reach south Ben-gal seven-eight days after its onset in north Bengal, which happened on June 1. But, at present, the flow has been sluggish and the Met sees no chance of it arriving in Kolkata in the next four-five days. “Monsoon’s progress and pace depend on certain pulses. At present, it’s active over Arabian Sea but there is no major system over Bay of Be-ngal, which affects its flow ov-er our region,” Biswas said.