After warmest December, chiller January ‘numbs’ Kolkata

On Friday, between 5am and 6 am, Kolkata registered its lowest temperature this winter at 10.9 degrees Celsius, while Howrah was shivering at 9.5 degrees Celsius. According to the Indian Metrology Department, Kolkata is likely to experience similar or even colder weather conditions in the next few days.

“The temperature in Kolkata is three degrees below normal and it is likely to drop by another two degrees in the next 24 to 48 hours. Purulia is the coldest in south Bengal with 6.2 degrees Celsius and Bardhaman with 7.8 degrees Celsius,” said an IMD source. On Thursday, the minimum temperature in Kolkata was 12.7 degrees Celsius, which was a degree below the normal. The maximum temperature was 21.9 degrees Celsius which was 3 degrees below normal.

Heavy fog in the city

Picture by Ashim Paul

With heavy fog and gentle wind, Friday was even colder. This is the second time in the last 10 years and the first time in four years that the winter temperature in Kolkata hovered around 10 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature recorded on January 6, 2022, was 25 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature was 13 degrees Celsius.

It may be noted that on January 11, 2013, the minimum temperature was recorded at 10 degrees Celsius while on January 15, 2018, the minimum temperature was 10.6 degrees Celsius.

Foggy Maidan

Picture by Soumyajit Dey

The minimum average temperature during this time of the year is usually around 13 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature as per the Met office is recorded around 26 degrees Celsius.

After the warmest December in decades, this weekend brought in a “chilly” surprise for the people of Kolkata.