Kolkata, 18 July (H.S.): With the onset of the month of Shravan, the southwest monsoon has become active across West Bengal. Kolkata remained under a cloudy sky since Saturday morning, with intermittent light showers and brief spells of sunshine.

According to the Alipore Meteorological Department, scattered rainfall will continue across all districts of South Bengal. No weather warning has been issued for Kolkata till Monday. However, rainfall is expected to increase from Tuesday, with forecasts of thunderstorms and scattered showers continuing till Friday.

Heavy rainfall is likely in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Nadia on Tuesday. Most parts of South Bengal are expected to receive thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 30 to 40 kmph.

The weather office has issued a Red Alert for North Bengal, warning of extremely heavy rainfall in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar on Saturday and Sunday. Rainfall in these districts may exceed 20 cm. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar and other adjoining districts are also likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall (7–20 cm) till Monday. Rainfall intensity is expected to ease from Tuesday, although heavy rain warnings will remain in force for Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong till Wednesday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha-West Bengal coast has moved inland and is currently lying over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand and Odisha. An associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 5.8 km above mean sea level. The system is likely to weaken gradually over the next 24 hours.

The monsoon trough currently extends from Punjab through Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal to the north Bay of Bengal, drawing abundant moisture from the sea into the region. As a result, North Bengal is expected to witness intense rainfall over the weekend, while scattered showers will continue across South Bengal.

Strong winds of 35–45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, are prevailing over the sea under the influence of the low-pressure system. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along the West Bengal coast till Saturday.

Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 27.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, 0.8 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature on Friday was 31 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees below normal.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey