Kolkata grappled with scorching temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, triggering an orange alert from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), signaling residents to be prepared. Humidity soared to 77%, while skies remained clear, offering no respite in the form of rainfall.
Red Alert for Southern Districts
IMD officials escalated the alert level to red, urging action in six southern districts of West Bengal: North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Jhargram, West Midnapore, Bankura, and East Burdwan. The severe heatwave in these regions is forecasted to persist until Sunday.
Rising Temperatures Across Bengal
In other districts, an orange alert has been issued as temperatures are anticipated to climb by 2-4 degrees over the next three days. Dry weather is expected to prevail in the southern districts for the remainder of the week. Maximum temperatures in various cities including Panagarh, Asansol, Midnapore, Bankura, Haldia, Canning, Barrackpore, and Burdwan are hovering around 41 degrees Celsius.
Contrasting Conditions in Darjeeling
Conversely, Darjeeling experiences significantly cooler temperatures compared to Kolkata. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature in Darjeeling was recorded at 23 degrees Celsius, with a minimum of 14 degrees Celsius. Kalimpong recorded a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius, while Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar saw higher temperatures of 36.4, 37, and 35 degrees Celsius, respectively. Malda topped the charts with 41 degrees Celsius.
IMD Forecast and Alerts for Northern Districts
The IMD predicts a gradual rise in temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius over the next three days. Light to moderate rainfall provided some relief in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar. However, an orange alert for severe heatwave conditions has been issued for North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda, expected to persist throughout the week.
