Kolkata and several districts across south Bengal are expected to experience a fresh rise in daytime temperatures over the coming days, even as north Bengal continues to remain under the influence of rain-bearing systems and thunderstorms. The changing weather pattern is once again drawing attention to the growing vulnerability of eastern Indian cities to erratic pre-monsoon climate conditions and uneven heat distribution.
According to meteorological assessments issued this week, maximum temperatures across Gangetic West Bengal could increase by up to three degrees Celsius over the next few days. While isolated thundershowers may continue intermittently in Kolkata and nearby districts, they are unlikely to significantly reduce heat accumulation during daytime hours.The emerging pattern highlights a familiar urban challenge for Kolkata — rising humidity combined with heat retention caused by dense built-up neighbourhoods, limited tree cover, and expanding paved surfaces. Urban planners have increasingly warned that periodic rain events alone are insufficient to offset the long-term warming effect visible across rapidly urbanising regions of south Bengal.In contrast, districts in north Bengal, particularly the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan belt, are likely to continue receiving rainfall and thunderstorms driven by active moisture systems over the Bay of Bengal. Weather officials have indicated that these conditions may persist through the week, creating a sharp climatic divide within the state.
For Kolkata’s working population, transport operators, street vendors and outdoor labourers, the renewed temperature rise may intensify discomfort during peak afternoon hours. Health experts have repeatedly pointed to humidity-driven heat stress as a growing public health concern in eastern metropolitan regions, especially for elderly residents and low-income communities with limited access to cooling infrastructure.The weather fluctuation also comes at a time when state authorities are already responding to seasonal heat pressures. Educational institutions in parts of West Bengal have extended summer closures amid concerns over rising temperatures and student safety.Climate researchers say the increasing frequency of alternating heat spells and sudden thunderstorms reflects broader atmospheric instability linked to warming sea surface temperatures in the Bay of Bengal. Similar pre-monsoon weather swings in recent years have resulted in urban flooding, transport disruption and power outages across the Kolkata Metropolitan Region.The current conditions are also reviving discussions around climate-resilient urban infrastructure. Experts believe future city planning in Kolkata must prioritise heat mitigation through shaded public spaces, improved drainage systems, energy-efficient housing and stronger early-warning communication networks.
With the southwest monsoon expected to gradually advance over eastern India in the coming weeks, civic agencies are likely to closely monitor how rising temperatures, humidity and scattered storm activity interact across densely populated urban zones.
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