Kolkata, renowned for its monsoon anticipation, is gearing up for the imminent arrival of the southwest monsoon, expected between Thursday and Saturday. The Meteorological Office in Kolkata has observed monsoon cloud formations from the Bay of Bengal making steady progress towards the city, signaling an end to the prolonged wait for seasonal rainfall.
Weather experts from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Kolkata have highlighted the current favourable conditions for the monsoon’s onset in south Bengal. “Satellite imagery indicates significant movement of monsoon clouds towards the coast, aligning with southwest-southerly winds—a crucial factor in the monsoon’s progression,” stated an official from the weather section at RMC Kolkata. Wednesday saw Kolkata under predominantly cloudy skies, a typical prelude to monsoon activity, with intermittent drizzles reported in areas such as Alipore and Dum Dum. This weather pattern is consistent with the impending monsoon arrival, expected to bring light to moderate rainfall upon entry. Historically, Kolkata and south Bengal typically experience monsoon onset around June 10-11, albeit with a margin of error extending up to four days. However, this year’s delayed progression has seen the monsoon reach north Bengal by May 31, preceding the usual timeline for the region by several days. Despite its early arrival in the north, the monsoon stalled, causing a delay in its advance towards south Bengal.
The delayed onset, compounded by a scarcity of pre-monsoon showers, has left Kolkata facing significant rainfall deficits. Climatological data reveals that June typically witnesses 12.6 rainy days in Kolkata, yet the city has experienced precipitation on only two to three days this month. Comparatively, Kolkata’s normal rainfall expectation for June stands at 282.2 mm, with south Bengal averaging 247.9 mm. Presently, Kolkata reports a rainfall deficit of approximately 96%, with south Bengal facing a deficit of 65%. Meteorological observations on Wednesday indicated a slight drop in temperatures, with maximum and minimum temperatures recorded at 34.4°C and 30.4°C, respectively—marginally above normal levels. As the monsoon approaches, temperatures are forecasted to decrease further, hovering around 33°C during the day and 28°C at night by Thursday. The impending monsoon arrival holds promising prospects for alleviating Kolkata’s water scarcity concerns and rejuvenating agricultural activities in south Bengal. It remains to be seen how swiftly the monsoon will establish itself and mitigate the existing precipitation deficiencies across the region.
