Kolkata and large parts of South Bengal remained under a rain and thunderstorm threat on Friday even as the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal weakened after crossing the coast near Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The Alipore weather office said the system would lose more strength over the next 24 hours, but its effects would continue across several districts.
Intermittent rain was reported in Kolkata and its adjoining areas from Friday morning, with overcast skies across the city. Light to moderate, scattered rain was forecast in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman, Nadia and Murshidabad.
An orange alert was issued for three South Bengal districts. Heavy rain was expected in Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur, while South 24 Parganas was also likely to receive significant rainfall. Gusty winds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour were forecast in these districts.
Heavy rain was also possible in Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman and Birbhum. The weather office said rain would begin to reduce from Saturday, and no warning had so far been issued for the other southern districts from that day.
The weakening system has kept the sea rough for the past three days. A 14-year-old girl was swept away while bathing in the sea at Digha on Thursday afternoon. The weather office said winds over the sea were reaching 45 to 55 kilometres per hour, with occasional gusts of up to 65 kilometres per hour. Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea until Friday.
North Bengal was also expected to receive rain and thunderstorms. Heavy rain was forecast in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong and Alipurduar, with a warning of very heavy rain in Jalpaiguri. Scattered rain was likely in Cooch Behar, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur.
Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 25.9 degrees Celsius on Friday morning, 0.1 degree below normal. The city’s maximum temperature on Thursday was 29.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal.
The Alipore weather office said the depression would weaken further over the next 24 hours, while rain and strong winds were expected to continue in the affected districts on Friday. Conditions were forecast to improve from Saturday.
