Warmest April in Kolkata in last 20 years

Prithvijit Mitra | TNN | Apr 28, 2016, KOLKATA: Kolkata is experiencing the longest heat-wave in more than a decade and possibly heading for the most protracted scorching spell in two decades. It also makes this April the warmest in at least 20 years. 

With the scorching spell continuing for the sixth consecutive day, the Met office predicted at least another 48 hours of intense heat with no rain relief in sight. The weather was unusually harsh and the city has rarely experienced such peak-summer conditions so early, said the Regional Meteorological Centre, Alipore. 

With the mercury touching 40.3 degrees last Friday, the misery continued for Kolkata. The city hasn't been through a nearly week-long heat-wave in recent memory, said GC Debnath, deputy director-general of the Regional Meteorological Centre. 

"Heat-waves have rarely lasted this long in Kolkata, especially so early in April. We are still going through the records to check exactly when we had such a long heat-wave in Kolkata. We haven't come to the end of it yet. It will continue for at least two more days, possibly more since there is no sign of any change happening," said Debnath. 

Heat-waves have been few and far in between in the Kolkata region even though the mercury occasionally crossed the 40 degree mark, said Devendra Pradhan, additional deputy director-general - instruments of IMD. 

"They generally don't last more than 2-3 days at a stretch in eastern India for thundershowers invariably bring the temperature down. This year has been different, though, with no moisture-incursion happening and no low-pressure trough or cyclonic circulation in sight yet. It is a matter concern that such a lengthy scorching spell is not being broken. And we still have nearly two more months of summer to go," said Pradhan.