KOLKATA: At 41.7°C, Monday touched the highest
April
maximum
temperature
in 44 years — equalling the temperature recorded on April 25, 1980.
Monday’s
maximum
was effectively the second highest April temperature recorded in 70 years. In 1954, the maximum temperature touched 43.3°C during that year's April
heatwave
. In 1902 as well, the
mercury
touched 43.3°C, on April 2.
On the final day of the month, the mercury is unlikely to reach this century’s
record
highest temperature as a steady flow of cool southerly and southwesterly winds from the
Bay of Bengal
is likely to keep the maximum under 42°C.
Monday was also the eighth day this month when the maximum temperature crossed 40°C. Hence, 2024 has joined 2009 and 2016 in a triple tie as the years with the highest number of over-40°C days since at least 1998. The
Met office
’s forecast of over 41°C on Tuesday shows a high chance that on its last day, this month is likely to cross 2009 and 2016 records to become April with the highest number of over 40°C days in at least 26 years.
The Met office issued an updated bulletin on Monday extending the prevailing heatwave conditions till at least May 3. According to the daily forecast bulletin, there is no rain on the horizon till at least May 6. As a result, April is likely to end with less than 1% of its normal monthly rainfall of 57.1 mm.
According to Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) head Somenath Dutta, a thunderstorm is required to break the prolonged heatwave spell that has gripped Kolkata and the rest of south Bengal. “While it is too early to determine, I have observed an anticlockwise cyclonic turn in the Bay of Bengal winds, which is very conducive for thunderstorm activity that can knock the mercury down a few notches,” he said.
However, the current flow of southerly and southwesterly winds are unlikely to deter the prevalence of the hot and dry northwesterly winds over the region. On Monday, the real-feel maximum temperature was 46°C, according to a private weather forecaster. Meanwhile, Dum Dum recorded 42°C on Monday.
The highest temperature in the state was recorded at 45.4°C at Kalaikunda in West Midnapore. The Met office in its bulletin continues to warn people to avoid the sun between 11am and 4pm and to take precaution against the risk of heatstroke.
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