Red alert for rain in north Bengal till Monday, heavy showers likely in south
Kolkata, July 18
The Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore on Saturday issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in north Bengal till Monday and forecast an increase in rain activity across south Bengal, including Kolkata, from Tuesday onwards.
According to the Met office, scattered rainfall will continue across south Bengal districts till Tuesday, after which moderate to heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms is likely to intensify and persist till Friday.
Heavy rainfall is expected in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Nadia districts on Tuesday. Several other parts of south Bengal are also likely to experience rain and thundershowers, with gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph.
In north Bengal, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. The Met office has also warned of heavy to very heavy rain in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar and other districts adjoining the Himalayan foothills till Monday. While rainfall activity may ease slightly from Tuesday, a heavy rain alert remains in force for Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong till Wednesday.
Meteorologists attributed the weather conditions to a well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal adjoining the Odisha-West Bengal coast, along with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level. The monsoon trough currently stretches from Punjab through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal to the north Bay of Bengal, drawing substantial moisture inland and enhancing rainfall activity over the region.
The Met office also warned fishermen against venturing into the sea off the West Bengal coast till Saturday, citing strong winds of 35-45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, under the influence of the weather system.
Meanwhile, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 27.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 0.8 degrees above normal, while Friday's maximum temperature settled at 31 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees below normal.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Red alert sounds serious! I have relatives in Jalpaiguri and they said it's been raining non-stop since morning. Hope the municipal authorities are proactive about drainage and road conditions. Fishermen should definitely heed the warning—no point risking lives for a catch. 💧
I'm visiting Kolkata for work and this weather is wild! It's been drizzling on and off but the Met office says it'll pick up from Tuesday. Hope it doesn't disrupt flights or trains. Stay dry, everyone! ⛈️
North Bengal always bears the brunt of monsoon fury. While rain is needed for agriculture, this extreme amount can cause floods and damage crops. The low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal is a common culprit. Let's hope the relief measures are in place. 🌧️
Impressive how the monsoon trough is drawing moisture from the Bay of Bengal all the way to Punjab! Kolkata's temperature being 1.8°C below normal is a relief after those heatwaves. But red alerts mean no room for complacency—especially for those in low-lying areas.
Why do red alerts still catch us off guard every year? The government should invest in better drainage and early warning systems in north Bengal. My cousin in Alipurduar said roads are already waterlogged. Be careful, everyone! 🚨
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