West Bengal has a varied climate, with tropical savannahs in the southern portions of the state, to humid subtropical areas in the north. Temperatures vary widely, and there are five distinct seasons. The area is vulnerable to heavy rainfall, monsoons, and cyclones. There are some mountains in the area which are generally cold all year round.
Seasons There are six main seasons in West Bengal: summer (Grishma), monsoons or rainy season (Barsha), autumn (Sharat), late autumn/pre winter (Hemanta), winter (Sheet), spring (Bawshonto) .
Spring Spring is considered the most pleasant season over the plains of West Bengal and lies from mid-February to mid-March and is also the time where Holi is celebrated. Temperatures range between 20 °C – 30 °C and no rainfall. Though occasional rain or light showers are witnessed due to Western disturbances in North India.
Summer The summer season is observed from March to May in most of Bengal.
Temperature
In Bengal, summers can be extremely hot and have high humidity. The plains of South Bengal have a daily maximum temperature around 35–38 °C. It can also exceed 40 °C. The western highlands experience a dry summer like northern India. During the day, the temperature ranges from 38 to 42 °C, though it can reach or exceed 45 °C. In summer, the plains of North Bengal are generally cooler than the west and south. In this area, the daily maximum temperature varies from 26 °C to 32 °C. It occasionally crosses 35 °C. The minimum temperature in summer is approximately 18–22 °C. The Darjeeling hill region is the coolest area in summer. Here, the daily highest temperature is 15–25 °C.
Rainfall
+Average temperature and Rainfall for Bengali cities in summer (March to May) City Average temperature (°C) Average Rainfall (mm) Darjeeling 13.1 446 Siliguri 24.2 447 Jalpaiguri 24.0 453 Malda 28.3 188 Shantiniketan 29.4 264 Behrampore 29.3 136 Krishnagar 29.5 96 Asansol 30.0 114 Bankura 29.9 146 Kolkata 29.8 227 Digha 28.4 214 West Bengal 26.9 248.3
Monsoons Period
In mid-June or early July, the monsoon season starts.
Temperature
In most places, the temperature drops as cloud cover increases. This is less true for the mountains and the Terai Dooars plains, where temperature gradually increases until August.
The maximum temperature of South Bengal's plains and western highlands is 32 °C, 31 °C in North Bengal plains and around 19–20 °C in mountains. Sometimes when the sky gets clear, the temperature rises suddenly. This is known as a monsoon break. This occurs mostly in North Bengal plains and in mountains in July and August when the temperature soars over 36 °C and 24 °C respectively.
Rainfall
Most of the annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon period. Heavy rainfall above 250 cm is observed in the Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar district. Later, blowing westwards, the winds cause average rainfall of 125 cm in the northern plains and western plateau region.
+Average temperature and Rainfall for Bengali cities during monsoon season (June to September) City Average temperature (°C) Average Rainfall (mm) Darjeeling 16.4 2796 Siliguri 28.1 2651 Jalpaiguri 28.0 2674 Malda 29.6 1207 Shantiniketan 29.4 1510 Behrampore 30.2 1036 Krishnagar 29.4 1348 Asansol 29.5 1140 Bankura 30.3 1227 Kolkata 29.6 1358 Digha 29.1 1192 West Bengal 28.1 1649.0
Autumn Period
Autumn lasts for two months, October and November.
Temperature
In autumn, the southwest monsoon wind returns and clears the sky. So, the state gets enough sunshine to be warm in the day and releases a lot of heat to be cool at night.
At this time, a maximum temperature of 30–33 °C is felt over the plains and 17–19 °C in mountains. The minimum temperature is normally around 19–22 °C in plains and 6–11 °C in mountains. Sometimes, cold waves blow over the state in autumn.
Rainfall
In autumn, the southwest monsoon wind returns, and the northeast monsoon wind enters West Bengal. Due to their collision in Bay of Bengal, some cyclones are created. The cyclones cause some rainfall in the state.
+Average temperature and Rainfall for Bengali cities in autumn (October and November) City Average temperature (°C) Average Rainfall (mm) Darjeeling 13.4 74 Siliguri 23.2 181 Jalpaiguri 23.6 169 Malda 26.2 132 Shantiniketan 25.3 212 Behrampore 26.2 146 Krishnagar 26.5 175 Asansol 24.8 125 Bankura 25.9 94 Kolkata 26.6 216 Digha 25.9 240 West Bengal 24.3 160.4
Winter Period
The winter season usually starts in December and ends in February.
Temperature
In winter, a mild temperature is observed over the plains. The maximum temperature goes to 23–26 °C and the minimum temperature is 9–15 °C in plains of the state. The maximum and minimum temperature in the mountains range from 0–12 °C. Higher regions of the Darjeeling Himalayas get heavy snowfall during winter.
The temperatures of the western highlands at night can drop 7–9 °C, 4–7 °C in Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar plains and 10–11 °C in Kolkata when cold waves blow. Darjeeling's temperature can drop below freezing point.
Rainfall
Winter is generally dry. Most days are sunny. Occasionally, slight rainfall occurs because of conditions in northwest India. These are known as western disturbances.
+Average temperature and Rainfall for some cities in Winter (December to February) City Average temperature (°C) Average Rainfall (mm) Darjeeling 7.6 30 Siliguri 17.3 60 Jalpaiguri 18.9 36 Malda 20.6 27 Shantiniketan 19.7 44 Behrampore 20.6 32 Krishnagar 20.5 29 Asansol 19.7 46 Bankura 20.1 42 Kolkata 21.6 35 Digha 21.1 43 West Bengal 17.0 38.5
Extreme temperatures Sources: India Meteorological Department
Record high temperatures The chart below shows the highest recorded temperatures in individual stations, for all months in West Bengal, with place and date.
Month Highest Recorded Temperature (°C) Place Date January 36.8 Krishnanagar 1 January 1977 February 39.3 Bankura 26 February 2006 March 44.5 Behrampore 27 March 1980April 47.2 Kalaikunda 30 April 2024 May 48.3 Behrampore 23 May 1981 June 47.8 Suri 10 June 1966 July 43.0 Krishnanagar 22 July 1994 August 43.0 Krishnanagar 3 August 1994 September 41.0 Coochbehar 11 September 1977 October 40.5 Malda 1 October 1978 November 38.5 Bagati 6 November 1976 December 36.5 Bagati 30 December 1984 West Bengal 48.3 Behrampore 23 May 1981
Record low temperatures The chart below shows the lowest recorded temperatures in individual stations, for all months in West Bengal, with place and date.
Month Lowest Recorded Temperature (°C) Place Date January -7.2 Darjeeling 30 January 1971 February -6.4 Darjeeling 2 February 1971 March -4.8 Darjeeling 1 March 1971 April 0.0 Darjeeling 16 April 1971 May 1.4 Darjeeling 1 May 1981 June 4.6 Kalimpong 14 June 1991 July 3.9 Darjeeling 26 July 1944 August 7.4 Kalimpong 24 August 1971 September 5.9 Kalimpong 10 September 1991 October 3.2 Darjeeling 31 October 1972 November -4.4 Darjeeling 26 November 1970 December -4.6 Darjeeling 29 December 1970 West Bengal -7.2 Darjeeling 30 January 1971
Record low temperature in the plains
The chart below shows the lowest recorded temperatures in individual stations in the plains, for all months in West Bengal, with place and date. Month Lowest Recorded Temperature (°C) Place Date January 0.9 Krishnanagar 2 January 1986 February 2.2 Jalpaiguri 5 February 1914 March 6.2 Siliguri 4 March 1965 April 8.1 Coochbehar 9 April 2014 May 11.5 Jalpaiguri 10 May 1987 June 13.8 Contai 12 June 1961 July 12.0 Krishnanagar 16 July 1995 August 12.4 Sandheads 7 August 1972 September 10.4 Sandheads 2 September 1976 October 10.0 Sandheads 1995 November 6.4 Siliguri 30 November 1971 December 2.4 Siliguri 26 December 1961 West Bengal 0.9 Krishnanagar 2 January 1986
Extreme Rainfall The chart below shows the maximum recorded rainfall in individual stations (observatories) in the state, for all months, with place and date. Month Highest Recorded 24 hrs Rainfall (mm) Place Date January 134.6 Darjeeling 10 January 1967 February 161.0 Balurghat 19 February 1989 March 243.2 Sandheads 4 March 1990 April 210.0 Bardhaman 3 April 1994 May 615.0 Sandheads 17 May 1995 June 507.5 Sandheads 21 June 1981 July 884.5 Sagar Islands 22 July 1991 August 490.0 Sandheads 22 August 1991 September 593.6 Sandheads 25 September 1986 October 419.2 Kalimpong 5 October 1968 November 322.0 Sandheads 10 November 1990 December 251.3 Diamond Harbour 11 December 1981 West Bengal 884.5 Sagar Islands 22 July 1991
Rainfall
Annual rainfall varies in different parts of the state. North Bengal receives the highest rainfall, 200 to 400 cm. In the coastal areas rainfall is about 200 cm, in the Ganga plain and in the central part of the state rainfall is about 150–200 cm, and in the western plateau region the amount of rainfall received is about 100 to 125 cm. Drought is a common phenomenon in the Bankura and Purulia districts. Rainfall that occurs in the summer months often brings about heavy storms called Kalbaishakhi.
Cyclones in West Bengal Name Lowest Pressure (mbar) Year Winds (in km/h) Image 1970 Bhola Cyclone 966 1970 BOB 03 964 1981 BOB 07 994 1997 BOB 06 984 1998 BOB 04 998 2000 BOB 03 970 2002 100 Sidr 944 2007 215 Rashmi 996 2008 85 Aila 970 2009 120 Komen 986 2015 75 Roanu 983 2016 85 Mora 978 2017 110 Amphan 925 2020 240
Mountainous region
Because of the high altitude, mountainous parts of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri experience a cool temperate and climate. The average temperature in summer is about , and winter temperature is about . Snowfall occurs in some parts of this region. Being obstructed by the Himalayas, the region receives heavy rainfall. Due to the scenic beauty and temperate climate of the region, a huge number of tourists visit the areas. Here Kalimpong is another hill station that is visited by many tourists in all seasons for its scenic beauty and the average cool temperature throughout the year.
Climate data
References