kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, June 11: The southwest monsoon has already made its official entry into North Bengal, bringing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across several districts, South Bengal continues to wait for the formal onset of the rainy season. However, widespread thunderstorms and showers have already provided significant relief from the intense summer heat, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures across the region.

The Alipore Meteorological Department, thunderstorms accompanied by rain are expected to continue across the districts of South Bengal until at least Sunday. Weather experts have warned that several districts, including Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Nadia, and Murshidabad, are likely to experience gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour along with lightning and moderate to heavy rainfall. Kolkata and other adjoining districts are also expected to witness intermittent rain and cloudy conditions over the next few days.

Since Thursday morning, the sky has remained overcast across Kolkata and large parts of South Bengal. The oppressive humidity and sweltering heat that had troubled residents over the past several weeks have eased considerably. The cloudy weather and continuous rainfall have created a much cooler and more comfortable atmosphere throughout the region.

Meteorological data showed that Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 23.0 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning, which is 4.2 degrees below the seasonal average for this time of the year. The significant drop in temperature reflects the impact of widespread rain-bearing systems currently influencing weather conditions across the state.

North Bengal continues to experience vigorous monsoon activity. Several districts have been receiving persistent heavy rainfall since the monsoon's arrival, raising concerns over waterlogging and localized flooding in low-lying areas. Weather officials have indicated that the spell of heavy rain is likely to continue over North Bengal for the next few days, with some areas potentially receiving very heavy precipitation.

The India Meteorological Department has also stated that due to the ongoing rain and thunderstorm activity, temperatures in both North and South Bengal are expected to remain below normal over the next two days. Residents have been advised to remain cautious during periods of intense thunderstorms and strong winds, particularly in districts where weather warnings have been issued.

With favorable atmospheric conditions gradually developing over South Bengal, anticipation is growing regarding the official arrival of the southwest monsoon in the region. Meteorologists are closely monitoring the progress of the monsoon current, and if conditions remain supportive, the seasonal rains could advance further into South Bengal in the coming days, bringing much-needed rainfall to agriculture and easing concerns over heat-related discomfort.