South Bengal Braces for Rain as Bay of Bengal Low Pressure Turns Cyclone
The Regional Meteorological Centre issued an alert on Sunday indicating that a low‑pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is intensifying and is set to become a cyclone by the evening of Monday. This developing cyclone, moving in a north‑west direction, is projected to bring rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds to Kolkata and several districts throughout South Bengal.
The low‑pressure zone, which became distinct on Saturday, is now deepening and gaining momentum as it steers northwest. The system, positioned roughly 7.6 km above sea level, is expected to strengthen further by early Wednesday, with sustained wind speeds ranging from 85 to 95 km/h and gusts that may peak at 105 km/h. As a result, Kolkata is likely to experience continuous rainfall starting Wednesday, extending at least until Saturday. The forecast for South Bengal mirrors this pattern, with heavy‑rain warnings issued for 24 districts in the south as well as for East Midnapore. From Thursday through Saturday, South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore are in the high‑risk zone, while Hooghly, Jhargram and West Midnapore are forecast to receive intense showers on Friday and Saturday. Kolkata city itself is not expected to face heavy rain, and there are currently no marine warnings for local fishermen.
The northern part of the state will stay clear of the low‑pressure influence. Areas like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar will experience dry conditions, with only occasional light rain possible in Darjeeling and Kalimpong on Sunday and Monday. After that, the entire northern region should remain dry with minimal temperature fluctuations. In contrast, South Bengal may see a slight temperature rise due to the rainy and thunderstorm‑laden weather, though officials anticipate no major temperature shifts over the next three days, with only a two‑to‑three‑degree increase possible within the next two days. On Sunday morning, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 21.7°C, about 1.4°C above the seasonal average, while the maximum temperature on Saturday was 29°C, roughly 1.6°C below normal.