Key Highlights:

  • South Bengal, including Kolkata, will see no heavy rain in the coming days, only scattered light to moderate showers with thunderstorms.
  • Rain intensity in south Bengal is expected to decrease further over the next five days.
  • North Bengal districts, including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, face yellow alerts for heavy rain through the week.
  • Kolkata's rain is linked to the monsoon axis stretching from Jaisalmer to Gopalpur, with a low-pressure area over south Chhattisgarh having no further impact on Bengal.
  • Kolkata's Saturday maximum temperature was 31.02°C, slightly below normal, with humidity ranging between 77-95%.

A Break in the Rain for South Bengal

South Bengal is set to receive some relief from persistent rainfall, with the Met Office confirming on Sunday that there is no forecast for heavy rain in the region over the next few days. However, scattered light to moderate showers accompanied by thunderstorms may continue across the area, including Kolkata, meaning residents shouldn't expect entirely dry conditions just yet, only a reduction in intensity.

The Weather System Behind the Shift

According to the Met Department, the current low-pressure area is positioned over south Chhattisgarh and is not expected to have any further impact on West Bengal. Instead, the region's rainfall is currently being shaped by the monsoon axis, which extends from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan to Gopalpur in Odisha and further stretches into the east-central Bay of Bengal, a system whose positioning explains why south Bengal is seeing reduced intensity even as monsoon activity continues more broadly across the wider region.

What to Expect in Kolkata

An official from the Met Department detailed the near-term outlook for the city specifically. "Light to moderate rain with thundershowers is likely in Kolkata. Gusty winds may blow at a speed of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour. The amount of rain will further decrease from tomorrow. The relative humidity in the air today is 77 to 95 per cent," the official said, indicating that while some wind and thunderstorm activity should still be expected, the overall rainfall trend is clearly downward starting from Monday. The department further indicated that rain will continue decreasing across south Bengal over the next five days, suggesting the current wet spell affecting the region is winding down rather than merely pausing temporarily.

A Different Picture in North Bengal

While south Bengal moves toward drier conditions, districts in north Bengal are set for a considerably wetter stretch. The Met Office has issued a Yellow Alert for heavy rain in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts on Monday, with scattered rain expected across the remaining districts in the north as well.

A Rolling Series of Alerts Through the Week

The alerts continue into the following days with shifting geographic focus. On Tuesday, a Yellow Alert for heavy rain has been issued specifically for Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts. This is followed by a broader alert on Wednesday covering Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts, indicating an intensifying and geographically expanding rain event across north Bengal's hill and foothill districts through the middle of the week.

A Localised Alert to Close Out the Week

By Thursday, the alert narrows again, with a Yellow Alert issued for heavy rain accompanied by thundershowers at one or two places specifically in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts. After this point, rainfall in north Bengal is expected to decrease as well, though the Met Department noted this easing trend holds only in the absence of any new weather system forming in the Bay of Bengal in the meantime, an important caveat given how quickly such systems can develop and alter regional forecasts.

Kolkata's Recent Temperature and Humidity Readings

Providing additional context on recent conditions, the department noted that Kolkata and its surrounding areas recorded a maximum temperature of 31.02 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which was 1.03 degrees below normal for the period. The minimum temperature stood at 27.01 degrees Celsius, marginally above normal by 0.07 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity levels ranged between a maximum of 95 per cent and a minimum of 77 per cent, consistent with the generally moist conditions typical of this stage of the monsoon season in the region.