Kolkata, 22 December (H.S.) :

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday forecast a gradual fall in minimum temperatures across parts of West Bengal from December 25, with a drop of around two to three degrees Celsius expected in several districts.

According to the IMD bulletin, dry weather is likely to prevail across the state for the next seven days. There is not expected to be any significant change in minimum temperatures over the next two days. However, a gradual decline of two to three degrees Celsius is likely over the subsequent three days in districts of Gangetic West Bengal.

The IMD also said that sub-Himalayan districts are likely to experience a slight fall in minimum temperatures by around two degrees Celsius at a few places from December 25.

The bulletin further warned of shallow to moderate fog at one or two locations in several districts of the state over the next two days. Visibility in such areas may reduce to less than one kilometre during the early morning hours.

On Monday, Darjeeling recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state at 6.2 degrees Celsius. In the plains, Alipurduar was the coldest, registering a minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius.

Other areas that recorded notably low minimum temperatures included Jalpaiguri at 10.8 degrees Celsius, Bankura at 11.2 degrees Celsius, Cooch Behar at 11.3 degrees Celsius, Kalimpong at 11.4 degrees Celsius and Raiganj at 11.5 degrees Celsius.

The state capital, Kolkata, recorded a minimum temperature of 15.2 degrees Celsius.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh