Cyclone Murasu is unlikely to affect West Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday, while forecasting light rain or thundershowers in several districts, including Kolkata, through Wednesday morning.
The severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall near Ongole in Andhra Pradesh on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. At landfall, the system is likely to bring sustained wind speeds of 100 to 110 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 120 kmph, according to the weather department.
The IMD said there was no weather warning for Bengal in connection with Cyclone Murasu. However, it added that the movement of the storm was being closely monitored. The update means that the cyclone is not currently expected to produce a direct severe-weather impact in the state, although local rain and thunderstorms remain likely in parts of Bengal.
Several south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, may receive light rain or thundershowers until Wednesday morning. The forecast covers the metropolitan region as well as other populated areas across south Bengal, where short-duration rain can affect road movement, local drainage and daily commuting even when a cyclone warning is not in force.
Similar weather conditions are expected in the sub-Himalayan districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong during the same period, the IMD said. The forecast indicates that weather activity will not be confined to the cyclone’s projected landfall zone in Andhra Pradesh, although Bengal is not expected to experience the storm’s strongest winds.
The weather department has not issued any warning for fisherfolk venturing into the Bay of Bengal along the Bengal coast in connection with the system. It has nevertheless advised them against entering the northwest Bay of Bengal until November 4.
The advisory is relevant to fishing operations and coastal safety because marine conditions can remain hazardous even when a cyclone is not forecast to make landfall in Bengal. The absence of a warning for fisherfolk does not remove the specific restriction on entering the northwest Bay, which remains in place until the date stated by the IMD.
For urban residents, the immediate forecast is centred on rain and thunderstorms rather than cyclone-force winds. Kolkata and other south Bengal districts may therefore see temporary disruption to traffic, outdoor work and local services if showers intensify, while the sub-Himalayan districts are expected to experience similar weather through Wednesday morning.
The IMD’s next updates will determine whether the forecast for Bengal changes as Cyclone Murasu moves towards its expected landfall near Ongole. Until November 4, fisherfolk have been advised to avoid venturing into the northwest Bay of Bengal.
