Climate of West Bengal

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West Bengal has a varied climate, with tropical savannahs in the southern portions of the state, to humid subtropical areas in the north. Temperatures vary widely, and there are five distinct seasons. The area is vulnerable to heavy rainfall, monsoons, and cyclones. There are some mountains in the area which are generally cold all year round.

File:Teestavalley.jpg
National Highway 31A winds along the banks of the Teesta River near Kalimpong, in the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in West Bengal.

Seasons

There are six main seasons in West Bengal: summer (Grishma), monsoons or rainy season (Barsha), autumn (Sharat), late autumn/pre winter (Hemanta), winter (Sheet), spring (Bawshonto) .

Spring

Spring is considered the most pleasant season over the plains of West Bengal and lies from mid-February to mid-March and is also the time where Holi is celebrated. Temperatures range between 20 °C – 30 °C and no rainfall. Though occasional rain or light showers are witnessed due to Western disturbances in North India.

Summer

The summer season is observed from March to May in most of Bengal.

Temperature

In Bengal, summers can be extremely hot and have high humidity. The plains of South Bengal have a daily maximum temperature around 35–38 °C.[1][2] It can also exceed 40 °C.[3][4][5][6][7] The western highlands experience a dry summer like northern India. During the day, the temperature ranges from 38 to 42 °C, though it can reach or exceed 45 °C.[8][9][10][11][12] In summer, the plains of North Bengal are generally cooler than the west and south.[13][14][15] In this area, the daily maximum temperature varies from 26 °C to 32 °C.[16] It occasionally crosses 35 °C. The minimum temperature in summer is approximately 18–22 °C. The Darjeeling hill region is the coolest area in summer. Here, the daily highest temperature is 15–25 °C.

Rainfall

Average temperature and Rainfall for Bengali cities in summer (March to May)[17]
City Average temperature (°C) Average Rainfall (mm)
Darjeeling 13.1 446
Siliguri 24.2 447
Jalpaiguri 24.0 453
Malda 28.3 188
Shantiniketan 29.4 264
Behrampore 29.3 136
Krishnagar 29.5 96
Asansol 30.0 114
Bankura 29.9 146
Kolkata 29.8 227
Digha 28.4 214
West Bengal 26.9 248.3

Monsoons

Period

In mid-June or early July, the monsoon season starts.

Temperature

In most places, the temperature drops as cloud cover increases. This is less true for the mountains and the Terai Dooars plains, where temperature gradually increases until August.

The maximum temperature of South Bengal's plains and western highlands is 32 °C,[18] 31 °C in North Bengal plains and around 19–20 °C in mountains. Sometimes when the sky gets clear, the temperature rises suddenly. This is known as a monsoon break. This occurs mostly in North Bengal plains and in mountains in July and August when the temperature soars over 36 °C and 24 °C respectively.[19][20][21][22][23]

Rainfall

Most of the annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon period. Heavy rainfall above 250 cm is observed in the Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar district.[24][25][26][27][28] Later, blowing westwards, the winds cause average rainfall of 125 cm in the northern plains and western plateau region.

Average temperature and Rainfall for Bengali cities during monsoon season (June to September)
City Average temperature (°C) Average Rainfall (mm)
Darjeeling 16.4 2796
Siliguri 28.1 2651
Jalpaiguri 28.0 2674
Malda 29.6 1207
Shantiniketan 29.4 1510
Behrampore 30.2 1036
Krishnagar 29.4 1348
Asansol 29.5 1140
Bankura 30.3 1227
Kolkata 29.6 1358
Digha 29.1 1192
West Bengal 28.1 1649.0

Autumn

Period

Autumn lasts for two months, October and November.

Temperature

In autumn, the southwest monsoon wind returns and clears the sky. So, the state gets enough sunshine to be warm in the day and releases a lot of heat to be cool at night.

At this time, a maximum temperature of 30–33 °C is felt over the plains and 17–19 °C in mountains. The minimum temperature is normally around 19–22 °C in plains and 6–11 °C in mountains.[29] Sometimes, cold waves blow over the state in autumn.[30][31][32]

Rainfall

In autumn, the southwest monsoon wind returns, and the northeast monsoon wind enters West Bengal. Due to their collision in Bay of Bengal, some cyclones are created.[33][34] The cyclones cause some rainfall in the state.

Average temperature and Rainfall for Bengali cities in autumn (October and November)
City Average temperature (°C) Average Rainfall (mm)
Darjeeling 13.4 74
Siliguri 23.2 181
Jalpaiguri 23.6 169
Malda 26.2 132
Shantiniketan 25.3 212
Behrampore 26.2 146
Krishnagar 26.5 175
Asansol 24.8 125
Bankura 25.9 94
Kolkata 26.6 216
Digha 25.9 240
West Bengal 24.3 160.4

Winter

Period

The winter season usually starts in December and ends in February.[35]

Temperature

In winter, a mild temperature is observed over the plains. The maximum temperature goes to 23–26 °C and the minimum temperature is 9–15 °C in plains of the state. The maximum and minimum temperature in the mountains range from 0–12 °C. Higher regions of the Darjeeling Himalayas get heavy snowfall during winter.[36][37][38]

The temperatures of the western highlands at night can drop 7–9 °C,[39][40][41] 4–7 °C in Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar plains[42][43][44][45] and 10–11 °C in Kolkata[46][47][48][49] when cold waves blow. Darjeeling's temperature can drop below freezing point.

Rainfall

Winter is generally dry. Most days are sunny. Occasionally, slight rainfall occurs because of conditions in northwest India. These are known as western disturbances.

Average temperature and Rainfall for some cities in Winter (December to February)
City Average temperature (°C) Average Rainfall (mm)
Darjeeling 7.6 30
Siliguri 17.3 60
Jalpaiguri 18.9 36
Malda 20.6 27
Shantiniketan 19.7 44
Behrampore 20.6 32
Krishnagar 20.5 29
Asansol 19.7 46
Bankura 20.1 42
Kolkata 21.6 35
Digha 21.1 43
West Bengal 17.0 38.5

Extreme temperatures

Sources: India Meteorological Department[50][51]

Record high temperatures

The chart below shows the highest recorded temperatures in individual stations, for all months in West Bengal, with place and date.

Month Highest Recorded Temperature (°C) Place Date
January style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 36.8 Krishnanagar 1 January 1977
February style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 39.3 Bankura 26 February 2006
March style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 44.5 Behrampore 27 March 1980
April style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 47.2 Kalaikunda 30 April 2024
May style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 48.3 Behrampore 23 May 1981
June style="Template:Weather box/colt" | 47.8 Suri 10 June 1966
July style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 43.0 Krishnanagar 22 July 1994
August style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 43.0 Krishnanagar 3 August 1994
September style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 41.0 Coochbehar 11 September 1977
October style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 40.5 Malda 1 October 1978
November style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 38.5 Bagati 6 November 1976
December style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 36.5 Bagati 30 December 1984
West Bengal style="Template:Weather box/colt" | 48.3 Behrampore 23 May 1981

Record low temperatures

The chart below shows the lowest recorded temperatures in individual stations, for all months in West Bengal, with place and date.

Month Lowest Recorded Temperature (°C) Place Date
January style="Template:Weather box/colt"| -7.2 Darjeeling 30 January 1971
February style="Template:Weather box/colt"| -6.4 Darjeeling 2 February 1971
March style="Template:Weather box/colt"| -4.8 Darjeeling 1 March 1971
April style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 0.0 Darjeeling 16 April 1971
May style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 1.4 Darjeeling 1 May 1981
June style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 4.6 Kalimpong 14 June 1991
July style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 3.9 Darjeeling 26 July 1944
August style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 7.4 Kalimpong 24 August 1971
September style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 5.9 Kalimpong 10 September 1991
October style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 3.2 Darjeeling 31 October 1972
November style="Template:Weather box/colt"| -4.4 Darjeeling 26 November 1970
December style="Template:Weather box/colt"| -4.6 Darjeeling 29 December 1970
West Bengal style="Template:Weather box/colt"| -7.2 Darjeeling 30 January 1971

Record low temperature in the plains

The chart below shows the lowest recorded temperatures in individual stations in the plains, for all months in West Bengal, with place and date.

Month Lowest Recorded Temperature (°C) Place Date
January style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 0.9 Krishnanagar 2 January 1986
February style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 2.2 Jalpaiguri 5 February 1914
March style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 6.2 Siliguri 4 March 1965
April style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 8.1 Coochbehar 9 April 2014
May style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 11.5 Jalpaiguri 10 May 1987
June style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 13.8 Contai 12 June 1961
July style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 12.0 Krishnanagar 16 July 1995
August style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 12.4 Sandheads 7 August 1972
September style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 10.4 Sandheads 2 September 1976
October style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 10.0 Sandheads 1995
November style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 6.4 Siliguri 30 November 1971
December style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 2.4 Siliguri 26 December 1961
West Bengal style="Template:Weather box/colt"| 0.9 Krishnanagar 2 January 1986

Extreme Rainfall

The chart below shows the maximum recorded rainfall in individual stations (observatories) in the state, for all months, with place and date.

Month Highest Recorded 24 hrs Rainfall (mm) Place Date
January style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 134.6 Darjeeling 10 January 1967
February style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 161.0 Balurghat 19 February 1989
March style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 243.2 Sandheads 4 March 1990
April style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 210.0 Bardhaman 3 April 1994
May style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 615.0 Sandheads 17 May 1995
June style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 507.5 Sandheads 21 June 1981
July style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 884.5 Sagar Islands 22 July 1991
August style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 490.0 Sandheads 22 August 1991
September style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 593.6 Sandheads 25 September 1986
October style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 419.2 Kalimpong 5 October 1968
November style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 322.0 Sandheads 10 November 1990
December style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 251.3 Diamond Harbour 11 December 1981
West Bengal style="Template:Weather box/colp"| 884.5 Sagar Islands 22 July 1991

Rainfall

Template:Unreferenced section Annual rainfall varies in different parts of the state. North Bengal receives the highest rainfall, 200 to 400 cm. In the coastal areas rainfall is about 200 cm, in the Ganga plain and in the central part of the state rainfall is about 150–200 cm, and in the western plateau region the amount of rainfall received is about 100 to 125 cm. Drought is a common phenomenon in the Bankura and Purulia districts. Rainfall that occurs in the summer months often brings about heavy storms called Kalbaishakhi.

Cyclones in West Bengal

Name Lowest Pressure (mbar) Year Winds (in km/h) Image
1970 Bhola Cyclone 966 1970
File:15B 1970-11-12 0956Z.png
BOB 03 964 1981
File:03B Dec 09 1981 0823Z.png
BOB 07 994 1997
File:Storm02Bsat.jpg
BOB 06 984 1998
File:Tropicalcyclone 07B 1998.jpg
BOB 04 998 2000
File:Tropical Cyclone 02B 26 oct 2000 0922Z.jpg
BOB 03 970 2002 100
File:Tropical Cyclone 03B 12 nov 2002 0409Z.jpg
Sidr 944 2007 215
File:Sidr 14 nov 2007 0445Z.jpg
Rashmi 996 2008 85
File:Rashmi 10-25-08.jpg
Aila 970 2009 120
File:SCS Aila at peak intensity.jpg
Komen 986 2015 75
File:02B 2015-07-29 0500Z.jpg
Roanu 983 2016 85
File:Roanu 2016-05-21 0445Z.jpg
Mora 978 2017 110
File:Mora 2017-05-30 0720Z.jpg
Amphan 925 2020 240

Mountainous region

Template:Unreferenced section Because of the high altitude, mountainous parts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri experience a cool temperate and climate. The average temperature in summer is about Template:Convert, and winter temperature is about Template:Convert. Snowfall occurs in some parts of this region. Being obstructed by the Himalayas, the region receives heavy rainfall. Due to the scenic beauty and temperate climate of the region, a huge number of tourists visit the areas. Here Kalimpong is another hill station that is visited by many tourists in all seasons for its scenic beauty and the average cool temperature throughout the year.

Climate data

Template:Kolkata weatherbox Template:Siliguri weatherbox Template:Weather box Template:Weather box Template:Shantiniketan weatherbox Template:Weather box

References

  1. ↑ চার জেলায় বৃষ্টির সম্ভাবনা, বাকি রাজ্য থাকবে 'শুখা'.
  2. ↑ আগামী কয়েকদিন তাপমাত্রা বাড়লেও ঝড়বৃষ্টি পেতে পারে দক্ষিণবঙ্গ(3 March 2018).
  3. ↑ Kolkata records year's highest temperature at 39.6.
  4. ↑ Kolkata records hottest day of the season as heat wave heats hard.
  5. ↑ Temperature touches 41 degrees on hottest day. The Times of India. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  6. ↑ ৪৪ ডিগ্রি সেলসিয়াসে শ্রীনিকেতন, ঘামে নাকাল কলকাতা.
  7. ↑ ৪০ ডিগ্রিতে পুড়ছে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ(10 May 2019).
  8. ↑ বর্ষা খুঁড়িয়ে হাঁটায় দহনও বে-লাগাম.
  9. ↑ Kolkata reels under heatwave, Bankura sizzles at 45.1 degrees Celsius.
  10. ↑ Purulia scorches at 49 degrees.
  11. ↑ summer agony in monsoon season heat wave persists in several states.
  12. ↑ ৪৩ ডিগ্রি গরমে পুড়ছে বাঁকুড়া.
  13. ↑ জ্বলছে বাংলা, একেবারেই অন্য চিত্র উত্তরবঙ্গের এলাকাগুলোতে(30 April 2019).
  14. ↑ Kalbaishakhi may come in south Bengal, says Weather Office(14 May 2019).
  15. ↑ Pre monsoon rain will continue in North Bengal, South Bengal will face discomfort weather(29 May 2019).
  16. ↑ ঘূর্ণিঝড় 'ফনি'-র প্রভাব বাংলায়! কবে কোথায়, জেনে নিন আবহাওয়া দফতরের সতর্কবার্তা(29 April 2019).
  17. ↑ Regional Meteorological Department, Kolkata.
  18. ↑ ১০ বছরে উষ্ণতম জুলাই, শহরে ৩৭ ডিগ্রি!.
  19. ↑ গরমে নাকাল শিলিগুড়ি.
  20. ↑ ঘড়িতে সাড়ে বারোটা, পারদে ৪০ ডিগ্রি.
  21. ↑ দার্জিলিঙে ঘুরছে পাখা, সমতলে ৩৯ ডিগ্রি!.
  22. ↑ রেকর্ড ভেঙে ৪১ ডিগ্রিতে জলপাইগুড়ির পারদ.
  23. ↑ Many parts of Sikkim is feeling above 30 degrees temperatures.
  24. ↑ ভারী বর্ষণের সম্ভাবনা বাড়ছে উত্তরবঙ্গে.
  25. ↑ ভাসছে উত্তর, বৃষ্টির প্রতীক্ষায় দক্ষিণবঙ্গ.
  26. ↑ Good Monsoon rains in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri(26 June 2019).
  27. ↑ Siliguri is logging in 337 mm rain.
  28. ↑ 250 mm of rainfall destroyed lifestyle of North(23 September 2020).
  29. ↑ Regional Meteorological Department, Kolkata.
  30. ↑ শহর-শহরতলির তাপমাত্রা নামল স্বাভাবিকের ৩ ডিগ্রি নীচে, দেশজুড়ে শৈত্যপ্রবাহের সতর্কতা.
  31. ↑ রাজ্যের ৫ জেলায় বৃষ্টির পূর্বাভাস, শৈত্যপ্রবাহ নিয়ে বিশেষ সতর্কবার্তা দিল হাওয়া অফিস(6 November 2020).
  32. ↑ উত্তরে যেমন নামছে পারদ, সঙ্গে মিলছে বৃষ্টির পূর্বাভাস.
  33. ↑ Cyclone Bulbul in West Bengal: Latest News & Videos, Photos about Cyclone Bulbul in West Bengal | the Economic Times - Page 1.
  34. ↑ Bay of Bengal Cyclone: Latest News, Videos and Bay of Bengal Cyclone Photos | Times of India. The Times of India.
  35. ↑ Winter Season from December to February likely to be Warmer in Various Parts of Country.
  36. ↑ সান্দাকফুতে তুষারপাত, বরফে ঢাকল ছাঙ্গুও.
  37. ↑ বরফমোড়া সান্দাকফু, সম্ভাবনা দার্জিলিঙেও.
  38. ↑ এপ্রিলে তুষারপাত বাংলায়.
  39. ↑ মাঘে এল বাঘা শীত. Retrieved 25 November 2020.Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  40. ↑ রাজ্য জুড়ে শৈত্যপ্রবাহ. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  41. ↑ পারদ পড়ে রোজই রেকর্ড গড়ছে ঠান্ডা.
  42. ↑ শীতে কাঁপছে উত্তরবঙ্গ, শিলিগুড়িতে পারদ নামল ৩ ডিগ্রিতে.
  43. ↑ ৪.৪ ডিগ্রি! শিলিগুড়ির চাই রুম হিটার.
  44. ↑ কমছে পারদ, আগামী ২৪ ঘন্টায় জাঁকিয়ে পড়বে শীত.
  45. ↑ তীব্র শীতে কাঁপছে কলকাতা সহ রাজ্য(9 January 2013).
  46. ↑ কলকাতায় ১০.৬ ডিগ্রি, দমদমে ৯.৫, শ্রীনিকেতনে ৫.৮.
  47. ↑ শীতের দাপটে কাঁপছে রাজ্য, পারদ নামল তিন ডিগ্রি.
  48. ↑ আরও নামল তাপমাত্রা! ১০ বছরে দ্বিতীয় সর্বনিম্ন কলকাতা, শিলিগুড়ি ৫.৫ ডিগ্রি(29 December 2018).
  49. ↑ ১১.৯ ডিগ্রি, শীতলতম দিন কলকাতায়.Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  50. ↑ Climatological Normals for Indian Stations. India Meteorological Department(January 2015).
  51. ↑ Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012). India Meteorological Department(December 2016).

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