Kolkata, 21 March (H.S.): Overnight heavy rainfall led to a sharp drop of nearly six degrees Celsius in Kolkata’s minimum temperature on Saturday, bringing temporary relief from the recent warm conditions. The Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate rain through the day, with similar weather expected to continue across several districts of South Bengal over the next few days.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore, Kolkata’s minimum temperature fell from 25 degrees Celsius on Friday morning to 19.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which is 4.4 degrees below normal. The department has indicated that after a brief dip over the next two days, temperatures may rise again by about three to five degrees Celsius.
Rain accompanied by thunderstorms began in Kolkata on Friday evening and intensified as the night progressed. After midnight, several parts of the city witnessed heavy showers, lightning, and strong winds with speeds ranging between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour, affecting normal life.
The impact of the storm was also felt across several districts of South Bengal. In the English Bazar area of Malda district, a portion of the roof of a wholesale market at Netaji Municipal Market collapsed due to strong winds, leaving two persons injured.
Weather conditions have also deteriorated in North Bengal. The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. Rainfall activity in these regions is expected to continue until the middle of next week.
For Kolkata, an alert has been issued for scattered rainfall accompanied by gusty winds of 50 to 60 kilometres per hour on Saturday. Wind speeds may reach 60 to 70 kilometres per hour in districts including Howrah, Hooghly, Bankura, Murshidabad, Nadia and Purba Bardhaman.
The department has indicated that the intensity of the weather system may reduce from Sunday evening, with warnings likely to remain only for the districts of South 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipur and Jhargram.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until Sunday due to the impact of a cyclonic circulation. Sea conditions are expected to remain rough in the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal adjoining Odisha.
Meteorologists said a cyclonic circulation over northwest Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh has created a trough extending up to Nagaland via Jharkhand, the Gangetic plains of West Bengal and South Assam. This system, located at an altitude of about 0.9 kilometres above sea level, is drawing significant moisture from the Bay of Bengal, creating favourable conditions for widespread rainfall across the state.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
