Kolkata sweats as real-feel temp shoots up to 52°C, humidity at 88%

Kolkata: It felt hotter in Kolkata than Jaisalmer in the Rajasthan desert on Monday afternoon, where the real-feel temperature was significantly lower than Kolkata. While real feel — a measure of how the heat feels on the skin — shot up to 52°C in Kolkata, it hovered between 37°C and 43°C in Jaisalmer, though it recorded a higher maximum temperature of 44°C, according to private weather forecasting service AccuWeather.Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 35.9°C, which was normal, but the heat seemed unbearable, making pedestrians rush for shade and those at home sweat and pant. The reason behind the stifling conditions in Kolkata was high humidity, which climbed up to a maximum of 88% on Monday. The maximum temperature could climb to 36°C on Tuesday. "Winds from the south are flowing in from the Bay of Bengal, carrying moisture. This has led to the high humidity. The maximum temperature was normal in Kolkata, but the combination of a continued spell of high temperature and humidity is what made it feel unbearable. Also, Kolkata received thunderstorms at regular intervals till a week back which kept the mercury in check. So, the present dry and hot spell is seeming more unbearable. Our tolerance levels are also going down," said deputy director-general of meteorology HR Biswas.The scorching spell is set to continue for at least the next five days, added Biswas. "It could be broken by thunderstorms, which are happening sporadically in south Bengal. But the impact on Kolkata is likely to be minimal over the next five days," he added.Meanwhile, north Bengal continued to be lashed by thunderstorms. A bulletin issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre on Monday said: "In view of the favourable wind pattern and strong moisture incursion from Bay of Bengal, enhanced thunderstorm activities are very likely to continue over the districts of north Bengal and some districts of south Bengal."It also said that southwest monsoon has advanced into "some more parts of Southwest and Southeast Bay of Bengal, most parts of Andaman Sea, entire Andaman & Nicobar Islands and some parts of Eastcentral Bay of Bengal…." North Bengal is set to receive more severe thunderstorms over next few days.