After a grueling spell of early April heat, West Bengal finally witnessed a dramatic weather turnaround on Monday evening. Intense thundershowers accompanied by ‘Kalbaishakhi’ (Nor’westers) lashed Kolkata and surrounding districts, bringing down the minimum temperature to 20°C—a significant 5 degrees below normal. While Tuesday morning felt pleasantly cool, the Alipore Meteorological Department has warned that more turbulent weather is on the way.

An Orange Alert has been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday across several districts including Kolkata, North & South 24 Parganas, and the western belt. Winds gusting between 50 to 60 kmph are expected to accompany moderate to heavy rainfall. According to the Met office, the intensity of these pre-monsoon showers will peak on Wednesday before gradually subsiding after Friday. Monday’s storm already caused localized damage with uprooted trees blocking several arterial roads in the city.

In North Bengal, districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri are also slated to receive consistent rainfall until the weekend. In Kolkata, the maximum temperature is expected to hover around 33°C, with dark clouds likely to gather by afternoon. However, this “moody” weather comes with a catch; health experts are reporting a surge in seasonal flu, coughs, and fever due to the sudden temperature fluctuations, urging citizens to take necessary precautions against the viral spike.