Kolkata is likely to experience an extended spell of humid weather, scattered rainfall and thunderstorm activity through the week, adding fresh pressure on a city already grappling with rising heat stress and strained urban infrastructure. Weather agencies have forecast intermittent showers and gusty winds across south Bengal, with conditions expected to intensify midweek.
The changing weather pattern comes at a crucial time for eastern India, where fluctuating temperatures and prolonged humidity are increasingly affecting mobility, public health and energy consumption in densely populated urban centres. Meteorological data suggests that daytime temperatures in Kolkata may continue hovering around 35°C to 36°C before easing slightly later in the week, while night-time temperatures are expected to remain unusually high.According to forecasts issued by the India Meteorological Department, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and wind speeds of up to 50 kmph could affect several districts in south Bengal over the coming days. The rainfall activity is linked to moisture inflow from the Bay of Bengal and evolving pre-monsoon conditions across eastern India.Urban planners and climate experts say the recurring cycle of heat, humidity and sudden storms highlights how vulnerable Indian metros remain to increasingly erratic weather systems. In Kolkata, repeated episodes of waterlogging, traffic disruption and pressure on drainage networks have exposed gaps in climate-resilient planning, particularly in older neighbourhoods and rapidly urbanising peripheral zones.
The city has also been recording severe “real-feel” temperatures driven by high humidity. In recent days, apparent temperatures reportedly crossed 50°C in some areas despite actual temperatures remaining lower, intensifying discomfort for outdoor workers, commuters and low-income residents without access to cooling systems.Health specialists warn that sustained humidity combined with elevated night temperatures can reduce the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat exposure. The impact is particularly severe in compact housing clusters with limited ventilation and sparse green cover. Experts increasingly view heat adaptation not only as a weather issue, but also as an urban design challenge linked to construction materials, open spaces and tree density.The forecasted thunderstorms may offer temporary respite from oppressive conditions, but meteorologists caution that isolated rainfall is unlikely to significantly reduce accumulated heat unless accompanied by widespread and sustained precipitation.
Across eastern India, authorities are also monitoring advancing monsoon conditions over the Bay of Bengal and adjoining regions. For Kolkata, the coming week is expected to test not only weather preparedness but also the city’s long-term ability to adapt to a warming and increasingly unpredictable climate landscape.
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