Kolkata, Dec 29: West Bengal is set to experience varied winter weather conditions over the next few days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting dense fog, persistently low temperatures and the possibility of light snowfall in the higher reaches of north Bengal as the year draws to a close.
Meteorological observations showed a chilly start on Sunday, with Darjeeling recording a minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees Celsius. Bankura was the coldest place in the plains at 9.0 degrees Celsius. Dry weather currently prevails across the state, although a cyclonic circulation over north Bangladesh and a trough in the easterlies over the Bay of Bengal are influencing local weather patterns.
According to the IMD, light rain or snowfall is likely at one or two places in the higher reaches of Darjeeling district over the next few days. Light rain may also occur in parts of Kalimpong and Alipurduar districts around the beginning of the new year. South Bengal, however, is expected to remain largely dry through the first week of January.
Dense fog continues to be a major concern, especially during early morning hours. Visibility is likely to drop to between 50 and 199 metres in several districts, including Uttar Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar in north Bengal, and North and South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur and adjoining areas in south Bengal. Foggy conditions are expected to persist till January 3.
Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 14 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which further dipped to 13.5 degrees Celsius on Monday—0.3 degrees below normal. The maximum temperature in the city struggled to rise beyond 21.4 degrees Celsius, nearly four degrees below normal, intensifying the winter chill.
The Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata, said minimum temperatures in north Bengal are likely to witness no major change over the next seven days. In south Bengal, temperatures are expected to remain steady for the next two days, followed by a gradual rise of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the subsequent three days before stabilising.
The weather office cautioned that dense fog could disrupt air, rail and road traffic and advised commuters to drive cautiously during early morning hours and stay updated on travel schedules.
