A new system over the Bay of Bengal is showing signs of intensification, but its expected trajectory suggests that West Bengal may escape any major weather disruption.
Kolkata's weather remained unsettled on Friday, with cloudy skies and morning showers keeping temperatures below the seasonal average.
While the city may see more spells of rain over the next few days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) says a fresh weather system developing over the Bay of Bengal is unlikely to significantly affect Kolkata or south Bengal.
The emerging system, currently over the South Andaman Sea, is expected to strengthen and develop into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Saturday.
It is then forecast to move west-northwest towards the Andhra Pradesh coast over the next two days.
The weather department is monitoring the system but has not issued any warning for West Bengal related to its development.
The latest forecast also distinguishes between the weather expected in north and south Bengal.
Parts of north Bengal could see isolated heavy rainfall as moisture-laden winds flow into the region.
However, this weather activity is linked to the remnants of Cyclone Arnab rather than the new system over the Bay of Bengal.
On Friday morning, the cyclone's remnant was located as a low-pressure area over north Chhattisgarh and adjoining East Madhya Pradesh. Its lingering influence also contributed to the light rain recorded in Kolkata earlier in the day, a Met official said.
For south Bengal, the IMD has forecast light rain or thundershowers at one or two places in every district between November 1 and 5. The region is likely to remain mostly dry thereafter.
Kolkata's temperature readings have also shown a noticeable contrast. The maximum temperature on Friday was 29.2 degrees Celsius, about two degrees below normal, as cloud cover limited daytime heating.
The minimum, meanwhile, climbed to 25.2 degrees Celsius, nearly three degrees above normal, with higher moisture levels contributing to the rise.
Interestingly, Met officials had suggested on Thursday that the new system might intensify further even after developing into a depression.
Their assessment on Friday was more restrained, with further strengthening now considered unlikely.
Published: 31 Oct 2026, 07:36 am IST
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