Kolkata, Dec 13 (NationPress) The Regional Meteorological Office in Kolkata has forecasted a cold wave in five districts of West Bengal over the next two days.

The districts affected include East Burdwan, West Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia, and Birbhum. A cold wave is characterized by temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius after sunset or minimum temperatures that are 5 degrees Celsius lower than normal.

In addition, dense fog is expected in the upcoming days across five districts in the northern part of West Bengal: Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and North Dinajpur. Fog is also anticipated in some districts of South Bengal, including Purulia, Bankura, and West Burdwan, during the early morning hours.

The state capital, Kolkata, has begun to experience the effects of cold winds since Thursday. The maximum temperature recorded in Kolkata on Thursday was 24.3 degrees Celsius, which is 2.7 degrees below normal.

The minimum temperature in Kolkata on the same day was 13.8 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees lower than usual. The relative humidity levels in the city were 96 percent for maximum and 40 percent for minimum.

The Regional Meteorological Office has predicted that both maximum and minimum temperatures in Kolkata will drop further in the coming days. According to their forecasts, on Friday, the temperatures will remain similar to Thursday's readings.

Meanwhile, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Kolkata has been reported at 285, categorizing it as “purple” or “very unhealthy”.

Environmentalists and health professionals have advised children and individuals with respiratory issues to limit outdoor activities during this time. As has been the trend each year, the AQI levels have worsened following Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations in October, and this decline is ongoing.