The city received temporary relief from the sultry conditions in the form of a sharp spell of thunderstorm on Sunday afternoon.
The monsoon’s arrival in Kerala on Sunday, three days before time, raised hopes of an early onset in West Bengal as well. But Met officials said a clearer picture would emerge after “three to four days”.
On Sunday, hailstorms were reported during the thunderstorm in some parts on the southern fringes. But the weather activities were not uniform.
When a medley of thunderclaps, lightning and lashing rain was happening in one part of the city, another was bone dry.
A little before 3.30pm, Gariahat in south Kolkata was drenched. But Gurusaday Road, a five-minute drive from the Gariahat intersection, was dry. Half-an-hour later, The Telegraph travelled on a wet SP Mukherjee Road and a dry Park Circus.
“The thunderclouds had come from Jharkhand. But they were scattered. As a result, some places got rain and some did not," said a Met official.
The city has been like a cauldron for the past two days. On Sunday, the maximum temperature was 34.2 degrees, a notch below normal. But the soaring humidity levels made people sweat profusely. A day earlier, the humidity level was slightly lower but the Celsius had shot up to 38.7 degrees.
“The conditions are ideal for a strong thunderstorm,” said a Met official.
Parts of the city received winds, lightning and rain on Saturday night as well.
The southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on Sunday, three days before time, the IMD said.
“Over the next three to four days, further advancement to the remaining parts of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of Northeast, is likely. After the monsoon reaches the Northeast, the expected date of arrival in Bengal will be clearer," said G.K. Das, director, IMD, Kolkata.
Usually, the monsoon reaches Bengal four to five days after its arrival in the Northeast, said Met officials.
The usual onset date for north Bengal is June 5 and south Bengal June 8.
The monsoon set foot in Kolkata on June 12 last year, bringing moderate rain.
In 2020, the monsoon set foot in Kolkata on June 11, bringing formidable rain along with it.