NewKerala.com

Fog Alert Across Bengal: How Chilling Temperatures Disrupt Travel and Life

The MeT office has issued a fog alert for West Bengal as temperatures take a sharp dive. Visibility could drop dramatically, making travel hazardous across the state. This comes after dense fog even disrupted Prime Minister Modi's travel plans over the weekend. While the fog may clear slightly by Monday afternoon, residents should brace for continued chilly conditions.

Key Points: MeT Office Issues Fog Alert as Bengal Temperatures Plummet

  • MeT office warns of light to moderate fog across all Bengal districts for 24 hours
  • Visibility may drastically reduce from 999 to just 200 metres due to the dense fog
  • Kolkata recorded its coldest day this winter with a minimum temperature of 14.4°C
  • Dense fog recently prevented PM Modi's helicopter from landing in Nadia district
2 min read

MeT office issues fog alert across Bengal as minimum temperature drops

West Bengal faces dense fog and a sharp temperature drop to 14°C, disrupting visibility and travel, with conditions expected to persist for 24 hours.

"The condition is favourable for dense fog across the state, especially in the districts of South Bengal. - MeT Department Official"

Kolkata, Dec 21

As the temperature dropped to around 14 degrees Celsius in and around Kolkata, the Meteorological (MeT) office on Sunday issued a fog alert across West Bengal, especially in the south districts, for the next 24 hours.

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata's Alipore said that there is a possibility of light to moderate fog in all the districts of North and South Bengal on Sunday and also on Monday morning. Due to the fog, visibility may drop from 999 to 200 metres. The fog will decrease from Monday afternoon onwards.

"The condition is favourable for dense fog across the state, especially in the districts of South Bengal. Once the fog clears, the temperature will rise slightly. However, there will again be a dip in the temperature once the weather clears," said a MeT Department official.

It may be noted that due to dense fog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter could not land in Nadia district's Taherpur area on Saturday, where he was scheduled to hold a public meeting. Later, he addressed the crowd virtually from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, Kolkata's minimum temperature also plummeted to 14.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, making it the coldest day of the winter season so far. Along with this, Kolkata and several districts of South Bengal were covered in fog in the morning.

Till mid-December, there was no sign of a proper winter chill in and around Kolkata. The city's minimum temperature fluctuated around 15-16 degrees Celsius. However, the situation changed on Saturday. Residents felt the chill of the cold north-easterly winds throughout the day. However, the meteorologist said that there will not be a sudden drop in temperature. Rather, the temperature will rise slightly as the fog clears. The temperature may drop again around Christmas. After that, the mercury will gradually begin to fall for some time.

On Saturday, the minimum temperature in Kolkata was 16.2 degrees Celsius. Compared to that, the temperature dropped by almost 2 degrees on Sunday morning. Temperatures have also dropped in other districts of the state. On Sunday morning, the minimum temperature in Kolkata was 14.4 degrees Celsius, 0.7 degrees below normal. On Saturday, the maximum temperature in Kolkata was 20.7 degrees Celsius, 5.4 degrees below normal.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Even the PM's helicopter couldn't land! This shows how serious the fog situation is. The MeT department's alert is crucial for flight and train schedules. Good they are keeping us informed.
A
Ananya R
Finally some proper winter weather! 14 degrees feels lovely after that extended warm spell. Time to bring out the sweaters and enjoy some hot chai. ☕❄️
S
Siddharth J
The article says the temperature will dip again around Christmas. Planning travel to family in the districts? Better check the weather updates closely. Safe travels to all!
M
Michael C
Interesting read. The fluctuation from 16.2 to 14.4 degrees might not sound like much, but that "feels like" temperature with the wind and fog makes a huge difference. The MeT office does important work.
K
Kavya N
A respectful suggestion for the authorities: While the alerts are good, can we have more real-time updates on major highways? Especially for truck drivers and overnight travelers. A little more proactive info would be a big help.
V
Vikram M
This is a timely alert. My relatives in South 24 Parganas were mentioning the dense fog since yesterday morning. Hope farmers are taking necessary precautions for their winter crops.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50