The chill has just set in. Now, rain is coming.
Under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance, a rainy spell is expected in Bengal between January 16 and 18, the Met office said on Friday.
Kolkata is likely to get rain on January 17, according to the forecast.
“In anticipation of a Western Disturbance from western Himalayan region and moisture incursion from Bay of Bengal, rainfall activity is likely over the districts of West Bengal during January 16-18,” a bulletin issued by the Met office said.
On January 16, South-24 Parganas and East Midnapore are likely to get rain. On January 17, South-24 Parganas, North-24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Nadia, Hooghly and Kolkata are likely to get rain, the bulletin said.
After a prolonged warm spell, chill returned to Kolkata, riding northwesterly winds, on Friday. The woollens are back again on the streets.
The Met office recorded a minimum temperature of 14.1 degrees in Alipore.
“Saturday is expected to be colder. The minimum temperature is likely to drop to around 13 degrees,” said G.K. Das, director, India Meteorological Department, Kolkata.
The minimum is likely to be on the lower side till Tuesday. It is expected to start rising thereafter, he said.
The current spell of chill is only the second this winter, after the first one in mid-December.
“But if it rains and the conditions are overcast, the feeling of chill will be there. The day temperature will then be on the lower side,” said Das.
The northwesterly winds now have a free passage from Kashmir to Bengal.
The IMD headquarters on Friday predicted “cold wave to severe cold wave conditions likely over north India during next two days”.
But as the Western Disturbance moves from northwest to northeast, it will stall the free passage of the northwesterlies. “Chilly nights are expected to come back after the Western Disturbance dissipates,” said Das.
