Kolkata records season’s coldest day at 14.5°C

Winter has finally shown its true colours in Bengal! Today, Kolkata wakes up to the coldest morning of the season so far as the temperature dropped to just 14.5 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD Alipore Meteorological Department. Cold north-westerly winds are rushing into the state, pushing the mercury lower day by day. While the day warmed up to 26.7°C yesterday, the sudden fall in night and early morning temperatures has brought back cold winter feel. People stepping out early felt the sharp bite of winter, especially with light to moderate fog making mornings even chillier.

The weather office says the next seven days will stay dry with no chance of rain. Most districts in South Bengal are already recording minimum temperatures between 10-11°C, and the chill will continue for at least a few more days. Fog is likely in the morning, especially along the coast and in northern districts like Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar. Visibility may drop to as low as 200 metres in the early hours, so drivers need to be careful.

In the North Bengal hills, Darjeeling has already touched around 5°C, and the misty mornings are making the mountains even more beautiful.North Bengal will feel almost the same chill as the south, with no big change in temperature expected. The cold will be strongest in the mornings and nights, while afternoons will feel pleasant under the sun. Meanwhile, other parts of India are also shivering—Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Jharkhand are facing cold wave conditions, and thick fog is expected in the north-east. Only Tamil Nadu and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands may see some rain and gusty winds in the coming days.