The Met office on Monday issued a heatwave alert for the western districts of Bengal.
From April 3 to 5, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, West Midnapore and Jhargram are likely to be in the grip of a heatwave.
Calcutta will continue to be “hot and sultry” and uncomfortable conditions will prevail at least till Friday, a Met official said.
The maximum temperature in Calcutta on Monday was 37.1 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. The minimum was 27.1, two degrees above normal.
The day temperature in Calcutta will go up in the next few days, said a Met official.
A bulletin issued by the Met department warned against “prolonged heat exposure” and advised wearing lightweight, light-coloured clothes.
“Recognise the signs of heat stroke, heat rash or heat cramps such as weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, sweating and seizures,” the bulletin said.
It advised avoiding direct sunlight and increasing the frequency and length of breaks in between outdoor activities.
“Due to the prevailing mainly dry westerly wind over the region, heatwave condition/hot and discomfort weather is very likely to occur over the districts of south Bengal during April 1 to 5, 2024,” said a Met bulletin issued on Monday.
The day temperature is likely to rise by two to four degrees Celsius in the south Bengal districts in the next three days and the maximum temperature is going to be above normal by four to five degrees in the western districts of south Bengal from April 3 to 5, the bulletin says.
“Heatwave conditions likely to prevail at one or two places over Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, West Midnapore, Jhargram districts of south Bengal,” the bulletin says.
A heatwave is declared when the mercury breaches the 40-degree mark and the maximum temperature is at least five notches above normal, said a Met official.
Usually, in April, the maximum temperature in Calcutta is 35.4 degrees Celsius. There is a possibility of the maximum touching 38 degrees in the next few days.
“There is not enough moisture in the air to trigger a thunderstorm, which can bring temporary relief from the current conditions,” a Met official said.
For a thunderstorm to occur, there has to be a system over the Bay of Bengal or the Chhotanagpur plateau, none of which exists now, a Met official said.