‘Rain is coming back’: Kolkata weather set for another spell as Bay system strengthens

Kolkata: Kolkata may have a brief respite from heavy rain, but the pause is unlikely to last.

A developing weather system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to strengthen into a depression and then a deep depression, bringing a fresh spell of heavy rain and gusty winds to several parts of West Bengal from Tuesday.

The Alipore Meteorological Department has warned of deteriorating weather conditions across South Bengal, with the system expected to move west-northwest after forming over the Bay of Bengal.

The sea is also likely to turn rough from Monday, prompting authorities to advise fishermen to stay away from the waters and ensure that those already at sea return to the coast by Monday.

Bay system to intensify

A cyclonic circulation is currently present over the North Andaman Sea and extends up to 7.6 km above sea level. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is expected to form and gradually move west-northwest.

The system is likely to reach the east-central Bay of Bengal and intensify into a depression by Monday.

Further strengthening is expected by Tuesday, when it could develop into a deep depression.

The weather system is then forecast to continue its westward movement and reach near the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts by Wednesday morning.

For West Bengal, this movement could mean several days of unsettled weather. Heavy rain is expected to affect multiple districts from Tuesday through Friday.

South Bengal in line for heavy rain

The first major impact is expected on Tuesday, when North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur are likely to receive heavy rainfall.

From Wednesday to Friday, several districts could see scattered heavy rain along with squally winds reaching 40 to 50 km/h.

The India Meteorological Department has also issued an orange alert for severe weather in four districts.

The weather is expected to remain particularly unsettled in some coastal and southern districts.

North 24 Parganas could see stronger storm activity on Friday and Saturday, while Paschim Medinipur is expected to face stronger weather on Thursday.

South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur are likely to experience continuous heavy rain from Wednesday through Saturday.

Heavy rain is also possible in isolated areas of Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, Murshidabad and Nadia.

Rough seas, strong winds trigger fishermen advisory

The developing system is also expected to significantly worsen sea conditions.

The sea is likely to become rough from Monday, with winds over the east-central and adjoining northeast Bay of Bengal reaching 45 to 55 km/h on Monday.

Wind speeds could increase further to 50 to 60 km/h on Tuesday.

Around the central Bay of Bengal, gusty winds could reach up to 70 km/h, with strong winds expected to continue through Wednesday and Thursday.

Along the West Bengal coast, squally winds of 40 to 50 km/h are forecast from Wednesday to Friday, creating hazardous conditions at sea.

Fishermen have therefore been advised not to venture into the sea from Monday to Friday. Those currently at sea have been asked to return to the coast by Monday.

North Bengal rain to pick up again

North Bengal, which has seen a temporary lull in rainfall, is also expected to come under the influence of the changing weather pattern.

Rain is likely to increase from Wednesday. Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri may receive heavy rain from Thursday, while Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Uttar Dinajpur are likely to see heavy rainfall from Friday through Saturday.

Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda could experience scattered thunderstorms, although heavy rain is not currently expected in these two districts.

What about Kolkata weather?

For Kolkata, the immediate forecast remains comparatively less severe.

Heavy rainfall is not expected in the city at present, although the broader weather pattern is likely to become more unsettled as the Bay system strengthens.

On Sunday morning, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 26.4 degrees Celsius, which was 0.1 degrees above normal. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 32.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 0.4 degrees below normal.

The Regional Meteorological Centre's Daily Weather Summary, based on observations during the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am, recorded 32.4 degrees

Celsius as Kolkata's maximum temperature, 24.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum and 7.5 mm of rainfall at Alipore.

Rainfall figures across Bengal

West Bengal recorded an average cumulative rainfall of 6.7 mm over the past 24 hours, representing a 16 per cent deficit against the long-period average.

North Bengal saw very light rain at one or two places in Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling.

Among South Bengal locations, Basirhat in North 24 Parganas recorded the highest rainfall at 60 mm, followed by Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas at 58.6 mm.

Durgapur (CWC) in West Burdwan recorded 34.2 mm, Salar in Murshidabad 32 mm, Canning in South 24 Parganas 26.6 mm, Digha in East Midnapore 26.5 mm and Contai in East Midnapore 25 mm.

Other rainfall figures included Kalaikunda at 17.6 mm, Midnapore at 17.4 mm, Sriniketan at 16.6 mm, Amfu Kakdwip at 11.8 mm, Amfu Kharagpur at 9.4 mm, Mohanpur at 9 mm, Panagarh at 8 mm, Tusuma at 7.8 mm, Alipore at 7.5 mm, Bankura (CWC) at 7.2 mm, Simulia at 7.2 mm, Barrackpur at 5.2 mm, Kalyani at 5.2 mm, Midnapore (CWC) at 5.2 mm, Saltlake at 3.9 mm and Diamond Harbour at 3.8 mm.

District rainfall departures

The rainfall pattern across Bengal remained uneven.

North 24 Parganas recorded 18.1 mm of rainfall, 196 per cent above normal, while South 24 Parganas recorded 25.2 mm, 193 per cent above normal.

Purba Medinipur received 18.4 mm, a 72 per cent excess, while Paschim Medinipur recorded 11.7 mm, 70 per cent above normal.

Murshidabad received 8 mm, representing a 60 per cent excess.

Kolkata's 7.5 mm rainfall was within the normal range, with a 1 per cent positive departure. Paschim Burdwan also remained within the normal range at 7.4 mm, 5 per cent above normal.

On the other hand, Purulia recorded 3 mm, 32 per cent below normal, Bankura 3.1 mm, 44 per cent below normal, and Howrah 2.3 mm, 52 per cent below normal.

The deficits were sharper in several districts. Jhargram recorded 0.5 mm, 93 per cent below normal, Birbhum 1.4 mm, 88 per cent below normal, Nadia 1.7 mm, 75 per cent below normal, Kalimpong 0.5 mm, 95 per cent below normal; Darjeeling 0.1 mm, 99 per cent below normal; and Jalpaiguri recorded no rainfall, 99 per cent below normal.

Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda, Purba Burdwan and Hooghly also recorded no rainfall, with the reported departure listed at -10 per cent.

For Kolkata, the immediate weather picture remains relatively subdued.

But with the Bay of Bengal system expected to strengthen rapidly, the coming week could bring a marked shift in weather conditions across Bengal.