A cyclonic disturbance spinning over the Bay of Bengal has interrupted the customary transition into autumn chill across eastern India. Instead of crisp morning breezes, residents across West Bengal are experiencing sticky humidity and above-average temperatures as the indirect cloud canopy from Cyclone Murasu continues to linger over the region. The cyclonic storm, which made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast, has held back the winter chill that typically begins to settle across the plains during the first week of November.
Severe Downpours Across Coastal Corridors
While the core circulation made its strike in coastal Andhra Pradesh, the system has triggered widespread atmospheric turbulence across the eastern seaboard. Coastal swathes of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu remain braced for intense precipitation, with meteorological authorities issuing red alerts for vulnerable sectors facing extreme downpours. Even though West Bengal remains shielded from a direct strike, the storm's extensive peripheral feeder bands are dragging substantial oceanic moisture inland. This atmospheric blanket kept the skies partially overcast across every district on Tuesday, accompanied by intermittent light spells.
District-Wise Rainfall Dynamics
The system's indirect footprint reflects contrasting patterns across the northern and southern halves of the state. In North Bengal, isolated light drizzle remains confined to select sub-Himalayan pockets, specifically Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar. The remaining three northern districts are slated to stay largely dry throughout this transitional spell.
Conditions across South Bengal have been more dynamic, with convective cloud formation sparking scattered thundershowers. Localized showers paired with lightning were forecast across North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, and Purulia. Other southern pockets are projected to see primarily dry spells. Starting Wednesday, November 5, and lasting through Saturday, rain activity will dissipate statewide, establishing a sustained stretch of predominantly dry conditions as cloud decks thin out.
Elevated Heat and Humidity in Kolkata
The influx of coastal moisture has severely compromised comfort levels in Kolkata. On Monday, the city logged a peak daytime temperature of 31.04 degrees Celsius, edging slightly beyond the seasonal baseline of 31 degrees Celsius. More significantly, the overnight minimum settled at 25.02 degrees Celsius, registering 2.03 degrees above what is normal for early November. Relative humidity levels oscillated sharply between 67 and 95 percent throughout the day. This trapped moisture layer has arrested radiation cooling, forcing residents to endure oppressive mugginess rather than welcome autumn breezes.
Clearing Skies to Usher in Pre-Kali Puja Chill
Atmospheric models indicate that the trapped warmth will break once the remnants of the cyclonic system dissolve entirely. Beginning November 5, dissipating cloud cover will allow nocturnal terrestrial radiation to escape freely, setting off a progressive decline in night readings. Meteorologists anticipate that this gradual cooldown will introduce a noticeable nip in the air right before the Kali Puja festivities slated for November 8. The pace and intensity of this impending drop will ultimately hinge on how rapidly dry continental winds replace the prevailing maritime air mass.
