Kolkata: The city on Sunday got a preview of the scorching summer ahead with the mercury rising to the season's highest so far — 35.7°C.
The minimum temperature also crossed the 26°C mark for the second consecutive day this season, reaching 26.5°C, signalling an end to the relatively pleasant nights and mornings. As midday approached, Kolkata was scorched by the sweltering sun that beat down mercilessly until the evening. However, some parts of the city received light rain and saw lightning strikes towards the end of the day, which brought some relief though the heat and discomfort persisted.
With warm and dry westerly winds blowing into south Bengal, coupled with moisture from the sea, the temperature in Kolkata is likely to hover around the 35°C mark for the next two-three days, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC). "Some amount of moisture is also floating into Kolkata, making it humid. This has raised the discomfort index, and it is unlikely to change until at least March 20," said RMC weather scientist Sourish Bandopadhyay.
Sunday's rain followed "thunderstorm activity" in the neighbouring districts. "There was moisture and heating at the lower levels that led to a light to moderate drizzle in Kolkata," Bandopadhyay said.

The city and its surroundings could be lashed by "localised thunderstorms" on March 20 and 21. While the possibilities of an "intense spell" of rain are high, several neighbouring districts could also receive thunderstorms and rain. "It is still too early to predict the rain intensity but there could be some relief, though temporary," Bandopadhyay added.
Even as the maximum temperature hovered around 40°C in the western districts of Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore, Jhargram, and Birbhum, some areas in these districts received local thunderstorms on Sunday. Some parts of Hooghly and Nadia also received thunderstorms. Areas around Bishnupur in Bankura got a hailstorm on Sunday evening.
The real feel temperature in Kolkata soared to 38°C on Sunday evening. "It could get more uncomfortable if the moisture incursion continues. It will turn the dry heat sweaty. On the flip side, it will also create conditions favourable for a thunderstorm," said a weather scientist.
The maximum rose by 7°C in six days earlier this month, jumping from 28.8°C on March 6 to 35°C on March 13. Last month, the IMD predicted "above-normal" heatwave days between March and May in parts of the country, including Bengal.