At 38.2°C & 29.2°C, max & min hit yearly high, Kol braces for heat spell
Times of India | 24 April 2025
12 Kolkata: The city was left scorched on a humid and warm Wednesday, during which the maximum temperature soared to 38.2°C – the highest recorded this year so far. The warm spell could continue, and the mercury could rise further today and touch 39°C, said the Met office. It is the dry and hot northwesterly wind that is carrying the heat into Kolkata and south Bengal, and it is set to persist till at least April 26.
There could be relief in store from April 27, though, as moisture starts flowing into the region. "Clear skies and scorching northwesterly winds have led to this scorching heat. The maximum temperature could touch 39°C in Kolkata, but it is unlikely to rise further. Some of the western districts of the state, though, may experience a heatwave," said Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) weather scientist HR Biswas.
So far this year, the highest maximum temperature recorded in Kolkata was 37.6°C on March 28. In April, Kolkata's highest temperature was 36.5°C, recorded on April 5. "Subsequently, the city was lashed by minor thunderstorms, including the season's first norwester last week, which helped to pull the mercury down. But over the last week, the skies have remained clear, moisture flow has stopped, and dry northwesterly winds have been flowing in," added Biswas.
Along with the maximum temperature shooting to its highest, the minimum, too, shot to 29.2°C on Wednesday, the highest this season. On Tuesday, it clocked 29.1°C.
A bulletin issued by the RMC on Wednesday said, "Mainly dry westerly to northwesterly wind is likely to prevail over the region, and consequently, heat wave conditions are very likely to occur over some districts of south Bengal during April 23 to 26."
The real feel temperature – a measure of how the heat feels on the skin, calculated on the basis of factors like temperature, sunray intensity, wind direction, humidity, and other inputs – shot to 48.5°C in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon. It could hover around the 50°C mark till Saturday, said private weather forecasting services.
Kolkata could have some relief on Sunday when a thunderstorm is likely to strike the city and its surrounding districts. "We expect moisture incursion to alter the weather. It could trigger thunderstorms and put an end to this scorching spell," said Biswas.
The Met office has issued a heat wave warning for Birbhum, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, and West Midnapore between Thursday and Saturday. The maximum temperature in these districts is likely to touch 40°C or soar past it. Kolkata will escape heat wave conditions for now.