Kolkata rain is expected to remain light to moderate through Thursday after Cyclone Arnab weakened following its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast, while the likelihood of rain and overcast conditions in the city is expected to reduce from Friday, according to meteorological officials.
The very severe cyclonic storm made landfall around 8 am between the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts and had weakened into a cyclonic storm by Wednesday evening. The system is expected to continue moving north-northwestwards and weaken further into a deep depression over the next 48 hours, with its track also taking it through Chhattisgarh.
Kolkata is experiencing an indirect effect because the city lies on the outer periphery of the storm. HR Biswas, head of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata, said the city was being affected by the outer rain band rather than the storm’s core. As a result, the city is not expected to receive incessant or heavy rain, although light-to-moderate showers and cloudy conditions may continue.
The city had already recorded light-to-moderate rain from Tuesday. Kolkata received 19 mm of rain during a sharp shower on Tuesday evening, while districts including Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura recorded 40 mm of rain or more.
Meteorological officials have not ruled out one or two spells of heavy rain in some districts of south Bengal. Parts of north Bengal are also expected to receive spells of rain. The distribution of rainfall will depend on the storm’s weakening phase and its continued movement inland, as described in the India Meteorological Department’s special bulletin.
According to the bulletin, Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, to the southwest of Yanam, as a very severe cyclonic storm. The landfall process was completed by 8 am, when the system’s central region moved completely over land. At that time, its core wind speed was between 125 kmph and 135 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph.
After landfall, the system weakened into a severe cyclonic storm. By Wednesday evening, its core wind speed had reduced to between 70 kmph and 80 kmph. The Regional Meteorological Centre said the chance of rain and an overcast sky in Kolkata would reduce from Friday as the system weakens and moves farther inland.
