Cyclone Arnab is expected to bring rain to Kolkata and severe weather to parts of south Bengal from Tuesday, with heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds forecast in several districts between October 28 and 30, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC).
The system over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal became a well-marked low-pressure area early on Saturday and intensified into a depression later in the day. It was accompanied by an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above sea level. The system is expected to intensify into a cyclone by Monday morning and has been named Arnab.
The cyclone is likely to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast by the evening of October 28 or earlier. Its outer cloud bands are expected to move over south Bengal from Tuesday, bringing cloudy conditions and intermittent rain to Kolkata and neighbouring districts.
Sourish Bandopadhyay, a weather scientist at the RMC, said Kolkata was likely to see light to moderate rain from Tuesday, with the frequency and intensity of showers expected to peak between Wednesday and Thursday. Rain may continue on Friday but is expected to weaken as the cyclone makes landfall and moves towards central or eastern India.
“Squally winds and heavy rain are expected along the coasts of south Bengal with wind speed reaching 30-40 km/hour,” Bandopadhyay said. The RMC forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at one or two places in East and West Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Howrah and Hooghly on Tuesday.
The weather office has forecast heavy rain of 70-110 mm at some places in South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore and Jhargram on October 28. On October 29, heavy rain is expected in parts of Midnapore, Bankura, Jhargram and Purulia. South 24 Parganas and both East and West Midnapore districts may also experience thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds.
The RMC has warned of lightning strikes in open fields between October 28 and 29, along with possible waterlogging and some damage to standing crops. The forecast places added pressure on local administrations and transport systems to manage rainfall, surface flooding and wind-related disruptions across Kolkata and the surrounding districts.
Kolkata remained dry and warm on Saturday, with the maximum temperature reaching 31.2°C. Dry weather is expected to continue on Sunday, when the maximum temperature may rise to 32°C. The RMC’s forecast indicates that cloud cover and rain activity will increase from Tuesday as the cyclone approaches the Andhra coast.
