Kolkata temperatures dip again as cold wave tightens grip across Bengal

Cold conditions have intensified once again across Bengal, including Kolkata, after a brief rise in temperatures earlier this week. The city recorded a drop in minimum temperature on Friday night, signalling a renewed spell of winter chill across the state.

Kolkata’s minimum temperature fell to 11.5 degrees Celsius on Friday night, down from 12.1 degrees Celsius recorded a day earlier. This is around 2.5 degrees below the seasonal average. The maximum temperature stood at 22.6 degrees Celsius, which was also 2.1 degrees below normal, reinforcing the wintry conditions.

According to forecasts, the cold spell is expected to continue across Bengal till Makar Sankranti. Several districts in both north and south Bengal are likely to witness dense fog during the morning hours, leading to reduced visibility. As the day progresses, skies are expected to clear, allowing sunshine to return.

Cold winds are expected to make conditions feel harsher than the actual recorded temperatures in districts such as Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad and Nadia. In North Bengal, including Cooch Behar and the two Dinajpur districts, the ‘real feel’ temperature is also expected to remain lower than normal.

A special advisory has been issued for pilgrims travelling to the Gangasagar Mela due to dense morning fog, which may disrupt Kakdwip–Kachuberia ferry and vessel services. An alert for dense fog has also been issued for Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur. No rainfall is expected, and the weather is likely to remain dry.