Kolkata heatwave: Mercury to hit 35°C

• Kolkata faces a week-long heatwave, forecasts reaching 35°C.
• The Met office predicts dry weather with little rain to offer relief.
• Residents recall April’s thunderstorms; heat may break in a week.

Get ready for a serious heatwave in Kolkata! The Met office is forecasting a week of soaring temperatures, with highs expected to hit 35°C. Read on to find out what this means for the city and when the heat might finally break.

Heatwave Incoming

Kolkata is currently experiencing a significant increase in temperature, with the mercury already reaching 33.6°C on Saturday. The India Meteorological Department anticipates this trend to continue, projecting the maximum temperature to climb further and potentially touch 35°C by Sunday. This warm spell is expected to persist for approximately one week, with no substantial meteorological systems in the immediate region to bring relief. The minimum temperature on Saturday was recorded at 23.6°C, indicating warm nights will accompany the hot days. This forecast suggests a prolonged period of discomfort for residents as the city braces for an extended period of elevated temperatures.

Dry Weather Ahead

The upcoming week for south Bengal, including Kolkata, is predicted to be predominantly dry, with a low probability of any significant rainfall or thunderstorms. While isolated, localized thundershowers might occur in a few areas, these are expected to be mild and infrequent, offering little to no substantial respite from the prevailing warmth. This lack of precipitation, coupled with rising temperatures, points towards a typical summer heatwave condition. Weather scientists have indicated that the current warm spell could potentially break after about a week, but as of now, there are no concrete indications or specific weather patterns suggesting an imminent end to the heat. Residents should prepare for a continuous period of warm and dry weather, with opportunities for rain being scarce.

Past Relief, Future Heat

This anticipated warm spell marks a contrast to the conditions experienced earlier in April. Between April 5 and 9, Kolkata witnessed the season's first major heatwave, which was subsequently broken by a series of thunderstorms and widespread rain. This period of inclement weather brought considerable relief, causing a notable drop in temperatures after a previous warm phase that had pushed the mercury up to 36.1°C on the preceding Saturday. The current forecast suggests that the dry and warm conditions are set to return, and while the possibility of a break exists after approximately seven days, specific details regarding the end of this heatwave remain uncertain.