Kolkata reels under heat, humidity; Met spies rain from Saturday

Kolkata: The city is likely to be under the spell of heat and humidity at least for three to four days, with the Met office reporting no significant rain immediately. At 36.2°, it was another day of harsh summer on Tuesday.

Even as the maximum temperature was only 2.4 notches above the normal mark, it was the high humidity that pushed up the discomfort level. The Met office, however, has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in north Bengal during the next seven days.“We do not expect any significant rain in Kolkata in the next three to four days. Even if it rains, it is likely to be light and scattered, which can only provide a brief relief. There is, however, increasing possibility of rain from Saturday onwards,” said meteorologist Sourish Bandyopadhyay of Regional Meteorological Centre Kolkata.While the southwest monsoon hit the city on Friday, a sluggish monsoon flow has left the city high and dry. The maximum is likely to hover between 35° and 36° for now. Some northwestern districts, however, are getting a few spells of rain.“The monsoon flow is weak and there is no significant system over south Bengal or the neighbourhood that would trigger significant rain for now,” added Bandyopadhyay.