Early chill in Kolkata with consecutive sub-20°C days
Times of India | 18 November 2024
KOLKATA: The mercury dropped to 19°C in Kolkata, marking the lowest of the season so far. It gave the city an early feel of a winter chill that has been elusive in recent years. On Nov 17, 2023, for instance, the minimum temperature was 23.6 degrees. While there may not be a further drop immediately, the minimum temperature is set to remain below the 20°C mark for now, said weathermen. The maximum temperature reached 28.4°C on Sunday.
On Monday, the minimum temperature may slide below 19°C. The mercury remained four degrees above the present mark on Nov 17, 2023, and it was not until Nov 23 that the minimum temperature dropped below 20°C. The drop of three degrees since last Thursday has made many bring out their woollens. Morning walkers, especially, are having to wrap themselves in light pullovers even as respiratory viruses are on the prowl.
The northwesterly wind has been getting stronger steadily this week, bringing in chill from the northwestern hills, said weathermen. "This is the time when the southeasterly is replaced by the northwesterly, and the more it flows in, the cooler it would get. But this is a slow process, and there could be obstructions to the flow that might stem the drop," said Regional Meteorological Centre weather scientist H R Biswas.
Weather scientists added that this year, the mercury plunged earlier than usual. "It varies from year to year, and the downward trend usually begins during the last week of Nov. It has been no different this year, but the slide has been slightly quicker than last year's. There will be no significant change in weather for at least a week. Since no cloud formation is predicted, the northwesterly will continue to flow in and keep the mercury below 20°C," Biswas added.
It was on Friday that the mercury slid two degrees to 20°C. The minimum temperature dipped below 20 on Saturday for the first time this season. While the mornings have been chilly, it has been getting slightly warmer as the day progresses. But the early morning chill will persist, said weathermen.
Shallow fog has been forming in some parts of Bengal, including East Burdwan and Darjeeling. In Darjeeling, mercury has already plunged below 10°C. Temperature has started dipping across sub-Himalayan Bengal and in the hills from Saturday.