The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday forecast a spell of intense rain across southern districts of West Bengal as a low-pressure system over the north Bay of Bengal gains strength and tracks west-northwestwards towards the West Bengal–north Odisha coastline.
The system is expected to become “well-marked” by Friday, with the associated strong monsoon flow triggering isolated extremely heavy showers over parts of south Bengal.
According to the IMD, Thursday will bring heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two locations in North and South 24 Parganas, as well as in Purba and Paschim Medinipur. Other southern districts are likely to experience moderate to heavy showers.
On Friday, the intensity is likely to peak with heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast at several places and isolated extremely heavy downpours expected in Bankura and Paschim Medinipur. Districts including Jhargram, Purulia, Purba Medinipur, Hooghly and South 24 Parganas are also likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain.
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Kolkata is likely to remain under moderate to heavy rain till Saturday morning as the low-pressure zone extends its influence over the Gangetic region, the IMD said.
In the north, sub-Himalayan districts, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri, are also expected to receive heavy rainfall between Friday and Sunday.
With rough sea conditions forecast, the IMD has advised fishermen to stay ashore. “Squally weather with surface wind speed reaching up to 55 kmph is likely to prevail over the north and central Bay of Bengal and along and off the West Bengal and Odisha coasts from July 24 to 28,” the bulletin said.
The weather office has cautioned civic bodies and disaster response units to remain alert as localised flooding and waterlogging in low-lying areas may occur.
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