In a surprising turn for February, Kolkata and much of South Bengal experienced the year’s inaugural rainfall early Tuesday. Starting around 4 AM, the city was enveloped in light to moderate downpours, while sporadic rain dotted other districts.
According to meteorologists, a low-pressure zone in the Bay of Bengal is fueling these showers. Expect the rain to linger across South Bengal districts for several more days, with possibilities of thunderstorms and winds reaching 30-40 km/h. Kolkata itself will remain cloudy all day, with afternoon showers on the cards.
Affected areas include Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, Murshidabad, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Purba Medinipur, and Paschim Medinipur. No significant temperature shifts are forecasted for the next week in either North or South Bengal.
The culprit is a cyclonic system that originated in the southeast Bay of Bengal and nearby Andaman Sea, now downgraded to low pressure. Positioned midway in the Bay off South Bengal, it’s gradually moving north-northwest, with potential paths toward the eastern Indian Ocean and southwest Bay.
Up north, the weather differs markedly. Fog is set to blanket Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and Uttar Dinajpur for 2-3 days. Temps hold steady, possibly climbing 2°C by weekend. By then, the low-pressure influence might bring light rain with thunder to Kalimpong and other hills.
This early monsoon-like activity in winter months underscores the unpredictability of regional climates. Locals should monitor updates for any escalation in wind or rain intensity, ensuring safety amid these atypical conditions.