The Meteorological Department on Wednesday forecast mostly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain across West Bengal till Saturday, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds at some places.
While Kolkata is likely to experience continuous rain until next Saturday, there is currently no warning of heavy rainfall. Weather conditions are expected to improve from Sunday, bringing relief to the city’s residents. Civic authorities have been working extensively to drain water into the Hooghly River after a month’s worth of rainfall fell in just five hours on Tuesday, leading to widespread waterlogging.
The Met Office recorded 252 mm of rain over five hours, including 185 mm between 2.30 a.m. and 5.30 a.m. Data from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation showed Garia as the wettest area with 332 mm, followed by Jodhpur Park at 285 mm, Ballygunge at 264 mm, Ultadanga at 207 mm, and Maniktala at 169 mm.
In South Bengal, heavy rain is expected in the coastal districts of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore, while West Midnapore, Jhargram, and Bankura may also experience heavy showers till Saturday. Winds over the north Bay of Bengal and the sea near the West Bengal-Odisha coast are expected to blow at speeds exceeding 45 km per hour. The Met Department has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea until next Saturday.
A meteorological official said, “On Thursday, a low-pressure system is likely to form over the northwest and adjacent central Bay of Bengal. It may intensify and move westwards, reaching somewhere between the Andhra and Odisha coasts on Friday. Moderate rain is expected in South Bengal districts and Kolkata till Saturday.”
In North Bengal, no heavy rain is expected, but scattered light to moderate showers are likely. Thunderstorms with lightning are forecast across almost all districts of North Bengal on Friday and Saturday.
The rainfall is expected to ease the waterlogging situation in Kolkata gradually, as civic authorities continue their efforts to manage the city’s drainage systems.
-IANS