No rain despite cloud cover, sultry week ahead

Kolkata: A cloud cover notwithstanding, Sunday remained humid and sweaty, despite a temperature drop triggered by a squall the previous evening. But while the city enjoyed a fairly pleasant end to the week, the coming one could be gruelling, predicted the Met office.
With only a weak cyclonic circulation in the region, thunderstorms would now be scarce and the mercury could climb back steadily to hover around the 40-degree mark."We had two squalls in succession, which is rare at the height of summer. Now, we are probably heading for another dry, scorching spell. A cyclonic circulation is active in Jharkhand, which precipitated the two squalls. But it is now too weak to produce more and the conditions will start turning uncomfortable again," said G C Debnath, deputy director-general, Regional Meteorological Centre.
On Sunday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 35.5°C, which was normal. But with a maximum relative humidity of 96%, conditions remained sultry. Even though the mercury remained well below the 40-degree mark, it felt like 45 degrees in the afternoon. "Real feel temperature was high due to the high humidity. The presence of the cyclonic circulation has ensured moisture incursion into the atmosphere, which is pushing the humidity up. It will remain high over the next 48 hours and the temperature will rise, too," Debnath added.
The city and districts in south Bengal enjoyed a brief respite from the scorching weather, though. Under the influence of the cyclonic circulation, several areas of Burdwan, West Midnapore, Nadia, Bankura, the two 24-Paraganas and Howrah were lashed by hailstorms on Saturday and Sunday.
It pulled the mercury down by several degrees. But weather conditions could change from Monday, said the Met office.
With the cyclonic circulation weakening, moisture incursion into the upper layers will cease. Conditions conducive to thunderstorms will steadily disappear.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), however, predicts at least two moderate intensity thunderstorms next week. They could hit in succession yet again, on Wednesday and Thursday.
"There is a long-term prediction but let's wait till next week. At present, it seems we are heading back to a rainless phase. It doesn't seem that the squalls, even if they hit Kolkata, are going to have a major impact on the weather. The relief could be very short-lived," felt Debnath.
On Saturday evening, a moderate-intensity thunderstorm was followed by a light drizzle. Some parts of the city, including central Kolkata, received heavier spells of rain early on Sunday. The city received 4.7 mm of rain on Saturday.