Archive · 3 Jan 2026
West Bengal Sees Temperature Shifts
It's been really cold in West Bengal, but the weather is getting a little better.
The India Meteorological Department says temperatures will go up by 2 to 4 degrees in some places over the next two days.
However, in the hilly areas like Darjeeling, it might get even colder.
There might be some light rain or snow in Darjeeling on Saturday.
The rest of the week will be dry, but there might be some fog in the mornings.
The coldest place in the plains was Suri in Birbhum district, where it was 8 degrees.
Kolkata was a bit warmer at 13.1 degrees.
People in Calcutta celebrated New Year's Day with fewer traffic violations compared to New Year's Eve.
There were fewer vehicles on the streets, and those who went out mostly followed the traffic rules.
The number of cases involving excessive riding on two-wheelers and not wearing helmets also decreased.
There was also a significant drop in drink-driving incidents.
Minimum temperatures in West Bengal rose slightly on Friday, offering brief relief from the cold.
IMD forecasts a 2–4°C rise in southern districts over the next two days, while sub-Himalayan districts like Darjeeling may see a 2–3°C decline from Sunday.
Light rain or snow is expected in Darjeeling on Saturday, with dry weather and possible morning fog across West Bengal for the next seven days.
The average maximum temperature in the last fortnight of December was three degrees below normal in Calcutta, the lowest in a decade.
New Year celebrations in Calcutta saw a notable decrease in traffic violations, with 661 cases on January 1 compared to 1,301 on December 31, 2025.
- Who
- India Meteorological Department (IMD), Calcutta Traffic Department, Metro
- What
- Temperature changes, weather forecast, and traffic violations in West Bengal
- When
- From Friday to the following week
- Where
- West Bengal, India (including Darjeeling, Kolkata, and other districts)
- Why
- Seasonal weather patterns, meteorological conditions, and public behavior during New Year celebrations
Weather Forecast
New Year Celebrations
Temperature Changes
Weather Forecast
Minimum temperatures in West Bengal rose slightly on Friday, offering brief relief from the cold. The IMD forecasts a 2–4°C rise in southern districts over the next two days, while sub-Himalayan districts like Darjeeling may see a 2–3°C decline from Sunday. Light rain or snow is expected in Darjeeling on Saturday.
New Year Celebrations
The average maximum temperature in the last fortnight of December was three degrees below normal in Calcutta. The mean maximum temperature for the month was 24.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest in a decade. The days were cold due to fog and low-level clouds, and the nights were consistently around or under 15 degrees.
Traffic Violations
Weather Forecast
No specific information on traffic violations related to the weather changes.
New Year Celebrations
There was a notable decrease in traffic violations on New Year's Day compared to New Year's Eve. The total traffic violations on January 1 were 661, approximately half of the 1,301 cases documented on December 31, 2025. There were fewer vehicles on the streets, and those who went out predominantly complied with traffic rules.
- Coldest Place in Darjeeling
- 4.4°C
- Coldest Place in Plains
- Suri, Birbhum (8°C)
- Kolkata Temperature
- 13.1°C
- Temperature Rise Forecast
- 2–4°C in southern districts
- Temperature Decline Forecast
- 2–3°C in sub-Himalayan districts from Sunday
- Weather Forecast
- Dry weather with possible fog in the morning
- Precipitation Forecast
- Light rain or snow in Darjeeling on Saturday
- Traffic Violations on January 1
- 661
- Traffic Violations on December 31, 2025
- 1,301
- Excessive Riding on Two-Wheelers on January 1
- 88
- Excessive Riding on Two-Wheelers on December 31, 2025
- 235
- Two-Wheeler Riders Not Wearing Helmets on January 1
- 212
- Two-Wheeler Riders Not Wearing Helmets on December 31, 2025
- 485
- Drink-Driving Cases on January 1
- 95
- Drink-Driving Cases on December 31, 2025
- 149
Sources
Biting cold relents in parts of Bengal, temperatures to rise by 2–4°C; Darjeeling still freezing, says IMD
New Year celebrations: Dip in road violations, dip in cases as public maintain decency
Coldest year-end in a decade, Calcutta witnesses tremendous chills during adieu - Telegraph India
Light rain in parts of Raj; night temperatures rise
Cold wave, dense fog grip parts of Rajasthan