The month of April witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon: a relentless heatwave that shattered records and wreaked havoc across Kolkata.SwitchON Foundation has showcased the temperature trends, elucidated the underlying factors driving the prolonged heatwave, and has also put forth the forecast for the upcoming days.
- April 24 Temperature Saga
- On the last day of the month, Kolkata experienced the highest-ever temperature (43°C) in the past five decades. This temperature was more than 7.4°C than the normal temperature, which denoted a severe heat wave condition in the city.
- The lowest minimum temperature this month was 24.7°C, which was also +0.9°C deviation from normal, which was recorded on 12th April.
- For the 9 days in April, the mercury of Alipur crossed the 40°C mark this year.
2. Concerning Temperature Trends between 2019 and 2024
- The maximum temperature has increased by 6℃ from 2019 to 2024 for April in Kolkata.
- Kolkata's minimum temperature has also increased by 5℃ from 2019 to 2024 during April.
- Frequent rise and drop of temperature was noticed in 2019 than in 2024
- The temperature graph is noticed to start at a higher mercury level and also end at the same course.
- The higher temperatures are noticed to be experienced in the final days of April in both years. Similarity prevails only in this course between 2019 and 2024.
3. An increasing number of hot days in April
- In 2024, 90% of days have experienced higher maximum temperatures than in 2019 in the month of April.
- Only 7% of days were with lesser maximum temperatures than in 2019
- Only 6% of days during April 2024, was the minimum temperature lesser than in 2019
- Whereas 93% of days experienced higher minimum temperatures this year than in 2019 during April in Kolkata.
4. Average Maximum temperature in April
- April, being the summer month in Bengal, has experienced upward growth in the average maximum temperature over the years, from 35℃ in 2019 to 38℃ in 2024.
- Simultaneously, tthe daily average maximum temperature in April has gradually increased from 30℃ in 2019 to 33℃ in 2024
- April is becoming a vulnerable month year by year.