Tuesday brought an unexpected gift to Kolkata and South Bengal: the first rain of the year, commencing lightly around 4 AM and building to moderate levels. Nearby districts reported patchy showers, signaling a broader weather shift.
Experts attribute this to a Bay of Bengal low-pressure system, promising more rain, winds, and thunder across South Bengal in the short term. Yet, over the next seven days, mercury levels in North and South Bengal alike will hold firm, defying expectations of a cool-down.
Clouds dominated Kolkata’s skyline all day, with light rain favored later. Districts on alert: Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, Murshidabad, North/South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Purba/Paschim Medinipur—bracing for 30-40 km/h gusts with showers.
Originating as a cyclone in the southeast Bay and Indian Ocean fringes, the system weakened into low pressure. It’s now mid-Bay opposite South Bengal, edging north-northwest toward potential eastern ocean and southwest Bay zones.
Northward, fog looms over Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and Uttar Dinajpur for 2-3 days. Temps stable, with a weekend nudge up by 2°C. The system may stretch to impact Kalimpong hills with light, thundery rain by then.
This February phenomenon reminds us of climate’s whims. South Bengal savors the moisture; North watches fog. Stay vigilant for updates as this low-pressure navigates, potentially reshaping regional forecasts.