kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, June 29: The humid and uncomfortable weather conditions continued to prevail across Kolkata on Monday, but the Alipore Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall for the city in the coming hours, offering hope of relief from the persistent sultry heat. The weather office has also predicted widespread rainfall across several districts of South Bengal, while a red alert remains in force for parts of North Bengal due to incessant heavy rain.

Monday morning, the sky remained overcast over Kolkata and several districts of South Bengal, with dense cloud cover dominating the region. Despite the cloudy conditions, residents continued to experience oppressive humidity and discomfort, as temperatures remained above normal.

The Alipore Meteorological Department, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 29.0 degrees Celsius on Monday morning, which is 2.2 degrees above the seasonal average. The combination of high humidity and elevated temperatures contributed to the uncomfortable weather conditions experienced across the city.

Meteorologists explained that a significant amount of moisture is continuously entering the landmass from the Bay of Bengal, creating highly favourable atmospheric conditions for the development of widespread rain-bearing clouds. As a result, both North and South Bengal are expected to witness moderate to heavy rainfall over the next few days.

The weather office has specifically indicated that Kolkata is likely to receive heavy rainfall, with several districts across South Bengal also expected to experience intense showers accompanied by thunderstorms in some places. Authorities have advised residents to remain cautious, particularly in low-lying areas that are vulnerable to waterlogging during heavy rain.

North Bengal continues to experience extremely heavy rainfall, prompting the Meteorological Department to maintain a red alert for several districts. Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri have been witnessing continuous and intense rainfall, raising concerns over landslides, flooding and disruptions to normal life in the hilly and adjoining regions.

The persistent inflow of moisture from the Bay of Bengal has significantly strengthened the monsoon system over West Bengal, increasing the likelihood of widespread precipitation across the state. Weather experts believe that the active monsoon conditions are likely to continue, bringing substantial rainfall to both northern and southern parts of the state.

The forecast has raised hopes that the expected showers will provide much-needed relief from the lingering sultry conditions in Kolkata. However, civic authorities are also preparing for the possibility of waterlogging and traffic disruptions if the city receives the heavy rainfall predicted by the Meteorological Department in the coming days.