In a bizarre turn of climatic events, the scorching heat of late March has been replaced by a “winter-like” chill across West Bengal. According to the Alipore Meteorological Department, the state has witnessed a drastic shift in weather patterns within the last 24 hours. Kolkata recorded a staggering 11-degree Celsius drop in its maximum temperature, catching residents by surprise as they woke up to overcast skies and steady drizzles on Sunday morning.

On Saturday, the city’s maximum temperature was recorded at 23.2°C, which is exactly 11 degrees below the seasonal average. The minimum temperature also slipped to 19.7°C, marking a 4.4-degree deviation from the normal. This sudden plunge in mercury is attributed to persistent overnight rainfall and a rare combination of a western disturbance and high moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.

The weather office has predicted multiple spells of thunderstorms and ‘Kalbaisakhi’ (Nor’westers) over the next 24 hours. A yellow alert remains in place for districts like East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and Jhargram. In North Bengal, hilly terrains of Darjeeling and Kalimping are expected to experience light to moderate rainfall with heavy fog.

While this unusual cooling has provided much-needed relief from the anticipated summer heat, experts suggest that the “pleasant phase” may be short-lived. The temperature is expected to start climbing again by the middle of next week as the cloud cover lifts. However, for now, Bengalis are enjoying a rare “Spring Winter” as the sounds of thunder replace the glare of the summer sun.