The brief spell of pleasant weather in West Bengal is drawing to a close as the Alipore Meteorological Department predicts a significant shift in climatic conditions. While scattered thunderstorms and rain are expected to persist for the next 48 hours, the reprieve from the heat will be short-lived. A massive spike in temperature is on the horizon, threatening to turn the state into a virtual furnace by mid-week.

The Met office has issued a ‘Yellow Alert’ for all districts of South Bengal for Tuesday. While this indicates a final bout of lightning and squally winds, it also marks the end of the pre-monsoon showers for this cycle. From Wednesday onwards, the clouds will dissipate, making way for direct solar radiation and surging humidity levels.

Meteorologists warn that as the atmospheric moisture clears, the maximum temperature could rise by $3^\circ\text{C}$ to $5^\circ\text{C}$ within a short span. For residents of Kolkata and neighboring districts, the comfort of cool breezes will be replaced by sweltering conditions. In western districts, the mercury is expected to touch or even cross the $40^\circ\text{C}$ mark, signaling an early onset of heatwave-like conditions. Residents are advised to stay hydrated and prepare for a grueling summer ahead as the “cooling effect” of the recent storms vanishes completely.