After a prolonged spell of bone-chilling cold, Kolkata witnessed a slight rise in minimum temperature on Thursday, with Alipore observatory recording 11.6°C, a rise from the previous day’s 10.3 degree Celsius. This comes after a record-breaking Tuesday, where the mercury plummeted to 10.2°C, marking one of the coldest January nights in 13 years.

According to the India Meteorological Department statement on Thursday, winter conditions persist in South Bengal, as Sriniketan recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 7°C. In the north, AMFU Majhian registered the lowest temperature for the plains at 7.8°C, while the hilly regions of Darjeeling dipped as low as 1°C.

Visibility was impacted across several districts as Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling reported dense fog with visibility between 50m and 200m, while shallow to moderate fog affected North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, and Malda. Cold-day conditions have been specifically identified in the East Midnapore district, IMD stated.

The Alipore Meteorological Department has stated that the winter chill is far from over as temperatures continue to hover below the seasonal average, although the mercury has climbed a bit in Kolkata. For the upcoming weekend of January 10–11, West Bengal is expected to experience a persistent cold spell with temperatures remaining significantly below the seasonal average. In Kolkata and South Bengal, the minimum temperatures are forecasted to hover between 11°C and 13°C, while daytime highs will struggle to reach 23°C to 24°C under mostly sunny skies.

“Despite this slight uptick, the weather remains significantly cooler than usual: Minimum Temperature is 11.6°C (2.3°C below normal), while maximum temperature is expected to hover around 22°C (2.7°C below normal),” said an IMD officer.

The department has predicted shallow to moderate fog during the early hours in Kolkata and its suburbs. As the day progresses, the sky is expected to become mainly clear, the officer said.

Kolkata weather data

Maximum temperature: 22.0°C

Minimum Temperature: 11.6°C

Humidity (Max/Min) 99% / 53%

Rainfall Nil (0.0 mm)

While the city experienced a brief “warm-up” compared to Tuesday’s 18°C daytime high, experts suggest this relief will be short-lived. Starting Friday, an influx of moisture into the atmosphere is expected. This change in wind patterns is likely to result in increased cloud cover and hazier skies over the weekend. Consequently, while the nights might stay stable, the absence of strong sunlight could make the daytime feel significantly colder once again.

IMD has indicated that “cold day” conditions will likely continue, particularly in North Bengal districts such as Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri, where dense morning fog may significantly reduce visibility. While a slight, gradual rise in temperature is possible by Sunday, the biting northwesterly winds are expected to maintain the winter chill throughout the weekend, making it one of the colder stretches of the month.

“Though the extreme “cold-wave” conditions have softened slightly today, both day and night temperatures will remain below normal for the foreseeable future,” the officer added.