Kolkata and its adjoining districts were hit by a thunderstorm on Saturday evening, with wind speeds reaching 50 kmph. The storm was followed by intense rain lasting an hour, then a drizzle that continued for another hour. Thunderstorms also struck parts of Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas.
The thunderstorm brought down temperatures after a cloudy and humid afternoon. The rain left several roads waterlogged in central, south, and north Kolkata. Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) weather scientist Sourish Bandopadhyay said, 'Thunderstorm and gusty winds at 50 kmph lashed Kolkata at 5 pm on Saturday. The city received 8.3 mm of rain till 5.30 pm.'
More Rain and Thunderstorms Expected
The Met office warned of more rain and thunderstorms as Bengal's political fate is decided on Monday. Intense thunderstorms are likely to strike parts of south Bengal, including Kolkata, on Monday and Tuesday. While light to moderate storms lashed various parts of the region on Saturday, they could continue on Sunday, triggered by a trough running from Madhya Pradesh to Manipur across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bengal, and Bangladesh. This has been aided by an upper air circulation over Gangetic Bengal.
An RMC bulletin stated, 'In view of the favourable wind pattern and strong moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, thunderstorm and associated activities are likely to continue over the districts of West Bengal.' Deputy Director-General of Meteorology HR Biswas said, 'We expect moderate to intense thunderstorms across south Bengal with wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph on Tuesday. They are likely to continue on Wednesday and gradually lose intensity over the subsequent two days. So, the city is likely to remain cloudy with intermittent rain, which could remain light to moderate till the middle of next week.'
Alerts and Forecast
The RMC bulletin predicted light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places over Jhargram, Bankura, East and West Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, and Howrah on Sunday. Thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty wind (speed reaching 50-60 kmph) are very likely to occur at one or two places over all districts of south Bengal on Tuesday. Light to moderate rain and thundershowers are likely at most places in Purulia, Bankura, East and West Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, and the rest of south Bengal on Wednesday, along with thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty wind (40-50 kmph). An orange alert and yellow alert have been issued for most of south Bengal on Tuesday, while a yellow alert is on for parts of south Bengal on Wednesday.
On Saturday, Kolkata remained under partial cloud cover with a maximum temperature of 32 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal. Maximum temperature will remain below normal in Kolkata during this rainy phase, said Biswas.
