West Bengal records hottest day of season at 37.4°C, mercury to touch 40°C by mid-week

 West Bengal experienced the hottest day of the year on Monday, with temperatures reaching up to 37.4 degrees Celsius. The scorching heatwave has caused significant discomfort and affected daily life across the state. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Alipore warned that the mercury level is likely to rise further by mid-week due to the prevailing dry and hot northwesterly winds.

The MeT explained that scorching temperatures are attributed to the prevailing dry and hot northwesterly winds soaring mercury by two-three degrees than normal.

"The temperatures may further increase by at least 2-3 degrees Celsius by the end of this week," said Sanjeev Bandopadhyay, Eastern Chief Meteorological Office.

TEMPERATURE LIKELY TO RISE FURTHER

The temperature in Kolkata touched 37 degrees Celsius on the first day of the week and is expected to rise up to 40 degrees Celsius by the end of this week.

The mercury levels were also high in other cities such as Asansol (37.8 degrees Celsius), Birbhum (38.6 degrees Celsius), and Malda (37.8 degrees Celsius). "Days are going to get difficult as the season will turn dryer and lack moisture. We expect the temperatures to rise in several districts within 48 to 72 hours," the weather forecaster added.