The maximum temperature dipped marginally in Calcutta on Monday but soaring humidity discounted any possible respite.

Sights that have by now become familiar in the city — scalded by at least two prolonged heat assaults this summer — have made a comeback. Busy thoroughfares are less crowded, bazaars are shutting down earlier than usual and golf sessions are being snipped.

The districts were much hotter than Calcutta. Panagarh in West Burdwan was the hottest place in the state on Monday with a maximum temperature of 44.9 degrees. Kalaikunda in West Midnapore sizzled at 44.6 degrees.

There were local thunderstorm activities in multiple districts on Monday.

Twin troubles

The Met office recorded a maximum temperature of 37.6 degrees in Calcutta on Monday, down from 39.2 on Sunday.

The heat wave between late April and early May had seen the Celsius soar to 43 degrees in Calcutta (on April 30).

But the torment inflicted by 38 degrees seemed to surpass that of April 30 because people sweated in litres on Monday, even when they stayed indoors.

Debayan Das, 40, lives in a Chetla apartment with his wife, son and 68-year-old mother. There are two ACs in the flat, in his and his mother’s room.

“I had breakfast between 10am and 10.15am at the dining table in the drawing room. By the time I finished, my shirt was soaked in sweat,” said the railway employee.

Sweaty shirts and sticky palms are directly linked to the moisture content in the air, said a weather scientist.

“When the temperature soars, the body cools down through perspiration. And when the moisture content shoots up keeping pace with the mercury, the sweat doesn’t evaporate easily, leading to a sticky, uncomfortable feeling,” he said.

A Met official said the moisture is stuck near the surface of the earth. “There is no convergence over south Bengal. The east-west trough passes through north Bengal, where the main convergence is happening. That is why north Bengal is receiving widespread rain and south Bengal is only sweating,” he said.

Cut short

Strength and conditioning coach Ranadeep Moitra, also a keen golfer, was at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club for the usual 18-hole round on Sunday afternoon.

“An 18-hole round takes close to five hours. We had to call it a day after nine holes. The conditions were unbearable,” said Moitra.

It was not an isolated case. “Many regular golfers are cutting down the 18-hole round to nine holes,” said an official at Tollygunge Club.

Even in the evening, the outdoor seating areas at clubs are looking desolate as people are flocking to air-conditioned indoor areas.

Forecast

Local thunderstorm activities can happen because of the increasing heat and humidity, said a Met official. “But widespread rain across south Bengal is likely only after June 14,” said a Met official.

A Monday bulletin said:

• On June 11, severe heat wave conditions are likely in West Burdwan, Bankura and West Midnapore districts. Heat wave conditions are likely in Purulia, Jhargram, Birbhum, East Burdwan and Hooghly districts. Hot and humid weather is likely in the remaining districts.
• One June 12, severe heat wave conditions are likely in West Burdwan and West Midnapore districts. Heat wave conditions are likelyin Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, Birbhum and EastBurdwan. Hot and humid weather is likely in the other districts.
• On June 13, heat wave conditions are likely in West Burdwan, West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura.

Monsoon

The southwest monsoon is still stuck over the northwest Bay.

“The southwesterly monsoon currents are not likely to arrive in south Bengal till at least June 14,” said Somenath Dutta, the deputy-director general of IMD, Calcutta.