Entry of winter still a month away, mercury to start dropping in city soon

Kolkata: Winter may set in within December 15 in the state, predicted the Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore on Sunday.

The temperature has started dropping slightly in the late evening hours and in the morning hours in all the South Bengal districts, after the weather system caused by cyclone 'Bulbul' ceased to have any impact. Various South Bengal districts are witnessing misty weather in early morning hours as well.

According to a weather official, city-dwellers may witness the winter chill from December 15 if no further weather system is created, hampering the steady flow of Northern wind that brings winter chill to the city and other South Bengal districts. The temperature may further fall, following the impact of the Western disturbances in various North Indian states. The sky in various South Bengal districts will remain clear, mainly in the next few days. If there are any Western disturbances, city-dwellers may feel the winter chill before the official entry of the season, which is expected in the state in the middle of next month.

If Jammu and Kashmir receives more snowfall in the next few days, it may have an impact on the weather system of the state, causing the temperature to drop by a few notches.

The weather office has also predicted light to moderate rainfall in two North Bengal districts, namely Darjeeling and Kalimpong, in the next 24 hours. The city may, register the lowest temperature at around 19 degree Celsius in the next couple of days, while the highest temperature may hover around 30 degree Celsius.

There is, however, no prediction of rainfall in the city and other South Bengal districts as of now.