West Bengal Weather Alert: Low Pressure Over Bay of Bengal

Weather conditions across West Bengal are set to change in the coming days as a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal gradually strengthens, according to a forecast released in Kolkata on Saturday.

The Kolkata Regional Meteorological Centre has indicated that a cyclone could form over the sea, with its impact likely to be felt across many districts from Wednesday. Heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds are expected in several parts of the state.

The low-pressure area that formed on Friday is centred over the east-central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining south-eastern region. A cyclonic circulation has been observed up to 5.8 km above sea level. The system is expected to become a depression by Saturday and move west-north-west.

By Sunday, the system may become a deep depression, and by early Monday it could take the shape of a cyclone over the sea. Over the next two days, it may grow stronger and move towards north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coastal areas.

For Kolkata, light rain and thunderstorms are possible at some places between Wednesday and Friday, with winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph. Similar weather is expected in Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia.

The districts of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore are likely to see continuous heavy rain from Wednesday to Friday. Purulia and Bankura may witness heavy rainfall on Thursday and Friday. Scattered rain is possible in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and West Midnapore on Tuesday.

The state coastline has no weather warning until Monday. Fishermen, however, have been asked not to go to sea from Tuesday, when a red warning will apply. Coastal wind speeds may range from 40 to 50 kmph and gusts could touch 60 kmph, while the sea is likely to remain rough.

North Bengal is also expected to see changes toward the weekend. Heavy rain is forecast for Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar on Thursday and Friday, and other northern areas may see scattered rain with winds of 30 to 40 kmph.

Kolkata's minimum temperature on Saturday morning stood at 23.1 degrees Celsius, slightly above the normal level by 0.1 degree. On Friday, the maximum temperature was 32.2 degrees Celsius, which was 0.5 degree above normal.