Kolkata: October warmest in 5 years, logs 64% rain deficit

KOLKATA: Despite a cyclone and at least two cyclonic circulations developing over the Bay of Bengal, this October turned out to be the warmest and driest in the last five years in Kolkata. While the highest maximum temperature recorded during the month crossed 36 degrees Celsius, rainfall was a steep 64% lower than normal. Meteorologists ascribe this dry weather to the lack of strong enough systems that could cause more consistent and heavier showers, bringing the mercury down.

On October 3, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 36.5 degrees Celsius, the highest that the city has recorded since at least 2016. While it is not unusual for the mercury to hover around the mid-30s in October, there are wet periods in between when the maximum temperature takes a tumble. This year, soon after cyclone Titli hit the Odisha-Andhra coast prior to the Puja, the city experienced a dry spell that lasted around eight days, pointed out weathermen. “While Titli didn’t quite generate heavy showers, the dry spell that followed saw the maximum temperature soar and it remained high throughout the period. This is unusual in October since Kolkata sees more frequent low-pressure systems and cyclonic circulations during the month,” said Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) director G K Das.


While in October 2017, Kolkata recorded the highest maximum temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius, in 2016, temperature soared to 34.4 degrees.

Last year, the city received 57% excess rain in October. “The rain shortage has been sharp, though October is not a monsoon month. The city had a monsoon rain deficit this year as well. It could have been compensated last month but the systems turned out to be weak. Cyclone Titli could have generated heavier and more showers in Kolkata had it not lost steam after landfall,” said a weather scientist.

The dry month, however, would have no bearing on the winter chill or its arrival, clarified experts. “The advent of winter and its intensity depends entirely on the north-westerly. Till it turns cool, the chill won’t be felt in Kolkata. It is now fairly warm in north-west India, so the chill is missing yet. It usually doesn’t turn significantly cool till December,” Das added.