KOLKATA: A week-long
scorching spell
, during which the maximum temperature has remained consistently at 35°C and above, is set to be broken on Sunday with a
thunderstorm
set to strike Kolkata and neighbouring south Bengal districts. A cyclonic circulation over north Bangladesh and its neighbouring areas had led to a strong moisture incursion, turning conditions favourable for a thunderstorm, said the Met office.
It could pull the mercury down by at least three-four degrees, providing a temporary respite from the scorching heat.
Kolkata on Saturday recorded a maximum temperature of 37.4°C, the highest so far in the season.
“We expect a thunderstorm in Kolkata in the second half of Sunday. Moisture incursion from Bangladesh has led to favourable conditions and the mercury should drop by an average of three-four degrees across south Bengal. In some places, where the thunderstorm is likely to be strong, the drop could four-five degrees,” said a Regional Meteorological Centre official.
Some areas of south Bengal could be lashed by a storm very early on Sunday morning, said weathermen.
An RMC bulletin on Saturday said “thunderstorm with lightning and gusty wind activity was likely to start over some districts of Bengal from the evening of April 6 to April 10”. Thunder squall, with the wind speed reaching 50-60 km/hr, along with lightning, is likely to occur at some places in Purulia, Bankura, East and West Burdwan, East and West Midnapore and Birbhum on Sunday. A thunderstorm with a wind speed of 40-50 km/hr is expected in some places of East and West Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Howrah, Hoogly, Bankura and Purulia.
Earlier, the RMC had issued a
heatwave
alert for most places in south Bengal.
We also published the following articles recently
English (US) ·