Kolkata, March 31 – Several districts in South Bengal, including Kolkata, experienced moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning starting Monday night, with overcast conditions continuing into Tuesday morning, the Meteorological Department said.
The skies have remained overcast, with scattered rainfall occurring in several locations.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata's Alipore forecasts further rainfall for the rest of the day and on Wednesday. There is also a possibility of rainfall across the entire West Bengal. An "Orange Alert" has been issued for seven districts in South Bengal.
The forecast is not limited to rainfall alone. Gusty winds, blowing at speeds of 50 to 60 km per hour, may occur in isolated areas.
A "Yellow Alert" has been issued for Kolkata and the rest of South Bengal. In Kolkata, gusty winds ranging from 40 to 50 km per hour are expected today. Heavy rainfall has been forecast for the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar in North Bengal. The rainy weather is likely to persist in South Bengal districts until Thursday. The temperatures are likely to rise by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius after that.
"An east-west trough extends from North-East Bihar to Manipur, passing over northern Bangladesh, Meghalaya, and South-East Assam. Additionally, another active trough stretches from Bihar, through Jharkhand, to Gangetic West Bengal. Due to the influx of substantial moisture from the Bay of Bengal and favorable wind patterns, stormy weather accompanied by lightning is expected to intensify today," said a Met department official.
According to the official, the sky is expected to remain overcast throughout Tuesday. There is a likelihood of storms, rain, and gusty winds in the afternoon. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 32 degrees C and 25 degrees C, respectively.
Since Tuesday morning, a drizzle has commenced in the Bankura district. Meanwhile, intermittent rain since Monday evening has helped keep temperatures somewhat in check, with the minimum temperature dropping a few degrees in several places.