As February comes to an end, winter seems to have vanished from Bengal, making way for unexpected rainfall and thunderstorms. The Alipur Weather Office has forecasted rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, in six southern districts of Bengal, with Kolkata also expected to experience wet weather. Meanwhile, North Bengal is likely to remain dry, with only Darjeeling and Kalimpong receiving rainfall.
Weather Forecast for South Bengal
The Alipur Weather Office has issued a yellow alert for six districts in South Bengal—North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, and Bankura. These districts are likely to experience thunderstorms and rain on Wednesday and Thursday. Additionally, light to moderate rainfall is expected in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, East Bardhaman, West Bardhaman, Murshidabad, and Nadia over the next 24 hours.
The minimum temperature in South Bengal is expected to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in the coming days, with rain likely to continue in Kolkata and surrounding areas until Sunday.
Temperature Trends in Kolkata
On Monday, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 23.2 degrees Celsius, which is 4.5 degrees above normal. Last Friday and Saturday, the temperature had dropped to 17 degrees Celsius, but it has since risen again. The fluctuating temperatures indicate the transition from winter to pre-monsoon weather patterns.
Weather Conditions in North Bengal
In North Bengal, rainfall is expected only in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Darjeeling may experience rain starting Monday, continuing until Sunday, while Kalimpong is likely to see rainfall from Wednesday. The rest of North Bengal will remain dry, with morning fog affecting visibility in some areas.
Reason Behind the Rainfall
The weather office attributes the rainfall to a double cyclonic circulation over Haryana and Gurugram, along with the arrival of a new western disturbance by Tuesday. These factors have created favorable conditions for rain in South Bengal.
As winter fades away, Bengal is gearing up for an unexpected spell of rain and thunderstorms. While South Bengal prepares for wet weather, North Bengal will experience dry conditions with occasional fog. Residents are advised to stay updated with weather forecasts and plan accordingly.