Kolkata and several districts across southern West Bengal are forecast to receive intermittent rainfall and thunderstorms on Tuesday, ending a prolonged dry period that has heightened urban heat and environmental stress. The precipitation is expected to bring short-term relief to residents while highlighting ongoing challenges in urban infrastructure and climate resilience planning.
Meteorologists indicate that the showers will affect Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas, and parts of the southern districts including Purba and Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram. This marks the first notable rainfall in the city since November, with western districts such as Purulia experiencing only brief drizzle in early December. Thunderstorm activity is possible, prompting authorities to advise caution in vulnerable areas. Urban planners note that even light to moderate rain in Kolkata can temporarily disrupt transport, commerce, and daily life due to the city’s aging drainage systems and high population density. Short bursts of precipitation often reveal gaps in stormwater management, especially in low-lying neighbourhoods, highlighting the importance of investment in sustainable drainage and flood mitigation measures.
Temperatures are expected to remain moderate, with the city seeing highs near 28–29 degrees Celsius and lows around 20–21 degrees. While this may provide short-term comfort, experts warn that recurring dry spells combined with sudden rainfall events are symptomatic of broader climate variability affecting the eastern metropolitan corridor. Such patterns have implications for urban design, energy demand, and public health planning, particularly in densely populated zones with limited green infrastructure. In northern West Bengal, light to moderate rain is predicted in hill districts including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri, where minimum temperatures range from 6–11 degrees Celsius. While these rains are beneficial for agriculture and water reserves, urban administrators must also account for the impact of heavy precipitation on road safety, landslide-prone areas, and transport networks.
Looking ahead, dry conditions are expected to return from midweek, with temperatures gradually rising toward 31 degrees Celsius by the weekend in southern districts. Urban development experts suggest that cities like Kolkata will increasingly need integrated climate-resilient strategies, from upgrading drainage networks to promoting green urban spaces, to mitigate the effects of fluctuating rainfall and heat stress. Such measures will support both citizen well-being and sustainable economic activity in rapidly expanding metropolitan regions.
