West Bengal is likely to see another spell of thunderstorms and rain from Saturday as a low-pressure area may form over the North Andaman Sea, with Kolkata and all districts of south Bengal included in the forecast for the weekend.
According to a bulletin from the Alipore Meteorological Office, the low-pressure area could develop by Saturday evening as a circulation over northern Thailand moves towards the North Andaman Sea. It is expected to travel west and north-west over the next three to four days, reaching the vicinity of the south Odisha and north Andhra coasts.
The developing system is expected to bring thunderstorms and rain to districts across south Bengal over the coming days. Kolkata and all south Bengal districts have been forecast to receive rain accompanied by lightning on Saturday and Sunday. Gusty winds with speeds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour are also possible, although the weather conditions may not affect every part of each district.
A yellow alert has been issued for all south Bengal districts over the weekend. The forecast is relevant for commuters, outdoor workers and local administrations because short-duration storms can affect road movement and day-to-day activity even when rainfall is uneven across a city or district.
The weather office expects the intensity of thunderstorms and rain in south Bengal to ease somewhat from Monday, although the rain is not expected to stop completely. Conditions are not currently forecast to remain severe enough for an alert from that day.
The next phase of the forecast points to renewed heavy rain in some coastal and western districts. South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore may receive heavy rain on Wednesday. On Thursday, the possibility extends to South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Jhargram.
North Bengal is also expected to remain affected in the immediate term. The south-west monsoon remains active in the region, while a circulation is present over Sikkim and adjoining areas. All eight north Bengal districts have been forecast to receive thunderstorms and rain on Saturday, with a yellow alert in place.
Rain and thunderstorms are expected to reduce somewhat in north Bengal from Sunday, and conditions are not currently forecast to require an alert. However, heavy rain may return to Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar on Thursday, according to the bulletin.
The forecast follows intermittent rain in Kolkata and other parts of the state during the Vishwakarma Puja period. The Alipore office has attributed the continuing unsettled conditions to the developing low-pressure system, the active monsoon in north Bengal and the circulation over Sikkim and nearby areas.
