The maximum temperature in Kolkata on Tuesday was 35.6 degrees Celsius, which was one degree above normal.
The normal temperature for any day is the average of the temperatures of that day, two preceding days and two succeeding days over the last 30 years.
The normal temperature for Tuesday (June 14) was the average of the temperature between June 12 and June 16 for the last 30 years, said G.K. Das, a senior official of the Alipore Met Office.
He said that though people were complaining about unusually hot June, climatologically it was not the case. The first half of June has been hot and humid like this for several years.
In fact, it was worse in 2018 and 2019, said Das.
Many Kolkatans said that if schools had to remain closed during this period this year, they should have remained closed in previous years, too.
The Bengal government on Monday extended the summer vacation in schools, other than the ones in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, by 11 more days — till June 26 — citing “extreme heatwave conditions”.
“Climatologically, June 2022 is not unusually hot. It was unusually hot in April this year, but not now,” said G.K. Das, director of India Meteorological Department, Kolkata. “June has been this hot and humid for many years. In fact, the maximum temperature hovered around 40 degrees Celsius in June in 2018 and 2019. Though many are complaining about the heat, it is not that unusual,” Das said.
Monday’s maximum temperature was 34.9 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal. Sunday’s maximum was 34.6, which was normal.
Saturday’s maximum was 32.7 degrees, which was 1.6 degrees below normal. On Friday, the maximum temperature was normal at 34 degrees.
The temperature recorded between Friday and Tuesday does not match the specification of a heatwave, punching holes in the logic cited by the government to extend the summer break.
Lakshmi Sivaramakrishnan, a professor of geography at Jadavpur University, told The Telegraph: “Heatwaves can be declared when the recorded temperature is 3 to 4 degrees above normal for a stretch of seven to eight days.”
The discomfort level, she said, is high because of high humidity.
Das had earlier said the high humidity was a feature of the transition from summer to the monsoon. The wind starts blowing in from the direction of the sea in the run-up to the monsoon. Since the wind is rich in moisture, the humidity level shoots up.
Evening rain
The city received rain, accompanied by gusts of wind, on Tuesday evening. Parts of the city such as Park Circus and Dum Dum recorded light to moderate rain, while others, including Kasba and Tollygunge, got only drizzles.
Vehicles amid rain near Sovabazar Metro station on Tuesday night. Bishwarup Dutta
“It started to rain around 9.15pm,” said the Park Circus resident.
The Met office said rain or thundershowers were likely on Wednesday, too.