A developing deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas to several districts of West Bengal from Tuesday, prompting the Alipore Meteorological Office to advise fishermen to return to shore by Monday and avoid the sea through Friday.
The system has developed from a circulation over the North Andaman Sea, extending up to 7.6 kilometres above sea level. The weather office said the circulation could lead to the formation of a low-pressure area, which is expected to move slowly west-northwestwards towards the east-central Bay of Bengal.
The system may intensify into a depression by Monday and deepen further by Tuesday. It is forecast to move towards the coasts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh by Wednesday morning. Its effects are expected to remain significant over parts of West Bengal, with heavy rain forecast in several districts between Tuesday and Friday.
Rain is expected to begin in parts of southern West Bengal from Tuesday, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. From Wednesday to Friday, several districts may receive scattered heavy rain. The weather office has issued an orange alert for four districts because of the possibility of more intense rain and thunderstorms.
North 24 Parganas is expected to see stronger weather activity on Friday and Saturday, while West Midnapore may experience heavier rain and thunderstorms on Thursday. South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore may receive continuous heavy rain from Wednesday to Saturday. Birbhum, East Burdwan, Murshidabad and Nadia may also receive scattered heavy showers.
The forecast includes gusty winds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour in some districts. Coastal West Bengal may experience winds of similar strength from Wednesday to Friday, keeping the sea conditions rough. Over the east-central and adjoining northeast Bay of Bengal, winds could reach 45 to 55 kilometres per hour on Monday and 50 to 60 kilometres per hour on Tuesday. Gusts near the central Bay of Bengal may reach 70 kilometres per hour.
The weather office has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea from Monday through Friday. Those already at sea have been asked to return to the coast by Monday. The warning is expected to affect fishing operations along the West Bengal coast as rough conditions persist through the middle of the week.
Rainfall in north Bengal, which has reduced for now, may increase again from Wednesday. Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri may receive heavy rain from Thursday, while Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur may see heavy rain from Friday through Saturday. South Dinajpur and Malda may receive scattered rain accompanied by thunderstorms, although heavy rain is not expected there at present.
The forecast does not indicate the immediate likelihood of heavy rain in Kolkata. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 26.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning, 0.1 degrees above normal. Its maximum temperature on Saturday was 32.4 degrees Celsius, 0.4 degrees below normal. The next official weather updates will determine how the rainfall and wind warnings change as the system moves westwards.
