The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Alipore has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in north Bengal until Monday. Additionally, there is a forecast of increased rain activity in south Bengal, including Kolkata, starting from Tuesday. Scattered rainfall is expected to persist in south Bengal districts until Tuesday, followed by a likelihood of moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms intensifying and continuing until Friday.
Heavy rainfall is anticipated in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Nadia districts on Tuesday. Other parts of south Bengal may also experience rain and thundershowers, accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph. In north Bengal, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall over the weekend. The Met office has cautioned about heavy to very heavy rain in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and neighboring districts near the Himalayan foothills until Monday. Although rainfall activity might ease slightly post-Tuesday, a heavy rain alert remains in place for Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong until Wednesday.
Meteorologists attribute these weather conditions to a well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal near the Odisha-West Bengal coast, accompanied by an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level. The monsoon trough currently extends from Punjab through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal to the north Bay of Bengal, drawing significant moisture inland and boosting rainfall activity in the region.
Fishermen are advised against venturing into the sea off the West Bengal coast until Saturday due to strong winds of 35-45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, influenced by the prevailing weather system. Meanwhile, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 27.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, slightly above normal, with Friday’s maximum temperature settling at 31 degrees Celsius, slightly below normal.
