Temperature at Kalaikunda in Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur reached a sweltering 41.5°C in the last 24 hours, marking a significant high as a heatwave continues to affect West Bengal. This intense heat, along with similar temperatures in Purulia (41.5°C) and Malda (40.8°C), pushed the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to advice residents to brace for hot and dry conditions in the state until April 26.
“Residents across West Bengal are advised to prepare for continued hot and dry conditions as westerly to north-westerly winds are expected to dominate the region,” said weather officials. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert, forecasting that this weather pattern will likely result in a heatwave until Saturday.
An official from the weather department stated, “The maximum temperature is expected to be above normal by 3-5°C over South Bengal and Malda district till April 26. Maximum relative humidity over coastal districts is likely to be 80-90% and over interior districts, about 70-80%. Minimum relative humidity is likely to be 45-55% over coastal districts and 30-45% over interior districts.”
The IMD highlighted that in the last 24 hours, “heatwave conditions prevailed at one or two places over western parts of South Bengal and southern parts of North Bengal. Maximum temperatures were above normal by 3-5°C at many places over western parts of South Bengal”.
The forecast for Friday predicts that heatwave conditions — with a maximum temperature of 40°C or more — are likely to occur at one or two places over Birbhum, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur districts.
Hot and humid weather conditions are likely to occur at one or two places over the rest of the districts.
The heatwave is expected to continue in some areas on Saturday, including Birbhum, Paschim Bardhaman, Purulia and Bankura districts, as well as the Malda district.
However, a significant shift in weather is anticipated from the afternoon of April 26. The IMD forecasts a change in wind patterns, bringing moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to create favourable conditions for moderate to severe thunderstorm activities over some districts of West Bengal.
On April 26, thunderstorms with gusty winds (speed: 40-50 kmph), lightning and light to moderate rainfall are likely to occur at one or two places over Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts. Similar conditions — but with winds of 50-60 kmph — have been predicted on April 27 at one or two places over Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts, along with winds of 40-50 kmph in one or two places over the rest of the districts.
On April 28, thunderstorms with gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, lightning and light to moderate rainfall are likely to occur at one or two places over Purulia, Bankura, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Hooghly and Paschim Medinipur districts.