Kolkata, 12 June (H.S.) : The Alipore Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms and scattered rainfall across Kolkata and several districts of South Bengal on Friday, while heavy rainfall is expected to continue in parts of North Bengal. An orange alert has been issued for seven districts in the southern region due to the possibility of strong winds and thunderstorms.

According to the weather office, Kolkata is likely to witness rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, with wind speeds ranging between 40 and 50 kmph. Similar conditions are expected in Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman, Birbhum, Murshidabad and Nadia districts.

In other parts of South Bengal, stronger winds with speeds of 50 to 60 kmph may occur. The districts under the orange alert include Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur. Scattered thunderstorms and rain are likely to continue in Murshidabad, Nadia and the two Bardhaman districts over the coming days.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon has already made its official onset over North Bengal. Heavy rainfall ranging between 7 and 11 centimetres has been forecast in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts through the coming days. Wind speeds in these districts may also reach 40 to 50 kmph.

North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur and Malda are also likely to receive scattered rain and thunderstorms, although no heavy rainfall warning has been issued for these districts.

The weather department has not yet specified an exact date for the arrival of the monsoon in South Bengal. However, it said conditions are becoming favourable for further advancement of the southwest monsoon. The monsoon has already covered the remaining parts of the southwest Bay of Bengal and extended into sections of the north Bay of Bengal.

Meteorologists indicated that the monsoon could advance into parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha within the next two to three days. A trough extending from Punjab to Gangetic West Bengal and a cyclonic circulation over Uttar Pradesh are helping draw large amounts of moisture from the Bay of Bengal into the region, creating favourable conditions for widespread rain and thunderstorms across both North and South Bengal.

On Friday, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, which was 2.2 degrees below normal. The city’s maximum temperature on Thursday stood at 34.7 degrees Celsius, marginally above the seasonal average.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh