123 Kolkata: The minimum temperature plunged slightly further on Tuesday when Kolkata recorded 17.2 degrees Celsius, making it the lowest this winter. Even as Kolkatans started enjoying the winter feel, a cyclonic circulation over the coastline is set to play spoilsport by halting the dry wind. The Met office predicted the possibility of light rain towards the weekend. Even if it does not rain, the minimum temperature will start rising gradually from Thursday.
Both the maximum and minimum temperatures have been below the normal mark in the past few days, making the weather pleasant. A steady flow of the dry and cold northerly wind system has been ensuring the mercury stays in check. However, the cyclonic circulation is likely to inject moisture, which in turn will push up the mercury.
"Though the chances are faint, Kolkata and a few coastal districts might get light drizzles towards the weekend. Even if it does not rain, the moisture incursion will lead to cloudiness and push up the temperature slightly. The wind system at the lower level will change from the dry northerly to the moist southerly during this period," said H R Biswas, head of the weather section at Regional Meteorological Centre Kolkata.
The minimum temperature is expected to reach 18 degrees Celsius by Thursday and climb to 20 degrees by Saturday. The maximum temperature, which was 26.9 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, may climb slightly by around a notch during this period.