North Bengal is facing a spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms as the remnants of Cyclone Arnab continue to draw moisture into the region, with Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Kalimpong placed under a rainfall warning for Saturday, according to the Alipore weather office.
The weather office said the remnants of Arnab are currently located over Chhattisgarh and adjoining eastern Madhya Pradesh. After weakening from a well-marked low-pressure area, the system became a general low-pressure area on Friday morning. A cyclonic circulation associated with it extends up to about 4.5 kilometres above sea level.
The system is allowing a large amount of moisture to enter North Bengal, increasing the likelihood of heavy rain in the northern districts. Rainfall of between 7 and 11 centimetres has been forecast in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Kalimpong on Saturday. Other parts of North Bengal may also receive scattered rain accompanied by lightning.
The warning is significant for a region where heavy rain can quickly affect hill roads, local transport, markets and access to essential services. The supplied forecast does not specify any road closures or disruption to railway or air services, but scattered thunderstorms and strong winds may create short-term risks for commuters and outdoor activities in the affected districts.
The weather office has extended the possibility of scattered rain in North Bengal until 4 November. Conditions are expected to gradually become drier after that, although the forecast remains subject to changes in the movement and influence of the weather systems.
A separate low-pressure area has also formed over the Andaman Sea near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is moving slowly west-northwestwards and is expected to reach the southeast Bay of Bengal, where it may intensify into a depression by 31 October. During the following two days, the system is expected to continue moving west-northwestwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.
The Alipore weather office said the new system is not expected to affect West Bengal at present, while noting that its movement and changing conditions are being monitored. South Bengal has no current storm or heavy-rain warning, although some districts may receive occasional isolated showers. For North Bengal, the immediate forecast remains focused on heavy rain in the four districts on Saturday, with Cooch Behar added to the warning for Sunday. Strong winds may accompany scattered rain in these areas.
