Strong wind from hills brings chill back KOLKATA: After a week-long warm spell, when the maximum temperature touched 29 degree at times, the chill eventually returned to Kolkata on Sunday. On Sunday, the mercury dipped to 11.7 degree, making it the coldest day of the month so far. It will continue to be just as chilly over the next 48 hours, said the weathermen. Northerly wind and a partly cloudy sky made for a chilly morning. As the day progressed, it seemed to get colder. The reason, according to the Met office, was a high-pressure zone above Darjeeling that triggered cool winds from north Bengal. Dense fog disrupted normal proceedings at the airport, but at no point were operations disrupted. With the skies clearing up, there was no obstruction. So, the wind brought the mercury down sharply. It will remain chilly for at least the next 48 hours. After that, the mercury will rise marginally, said GC Debnath, director, Alipore Met office. Cool spells in winter are generally followed by comparatively warm periods in south Bengal. The cycle had been interrupted in the first week of the month by a low-pressure zone over the Odisha coast. The mercury rose sharply, making winter disappear for several days. But with the low- pressure and western disturbance now gone, the normal cycle has resumed. From Wednesday, the northerly wind from north Bengal will weaken a bit and the chill will subside. As a result, the mercury may rise by a couple of degrees. But it will remain cool, said Debnath. The snowfall at Sandakphu last week helped to make it colder, said experts. The winds blowing in from the icy hills will make the mercury dip across the state. Not just north Bengal, but districts in south Bengal, too, will feel the effect. The winds have reached Kolkata. So, almost the entire state has been feeling the chill, said Debnath. TNN
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:12:29 +0000