Kolkata, July 12 (IANS) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Alipore in Kolkata on Sunday predicted that rain will continue across south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, for the next seven days. At the same time, the Met office issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in north Bengal.

A senior RMC official said the monsoon axis currently extends from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to Manipur. In addition, a cyclonic circulation is active over north Bangladesh and adjoining areas. It extends up to a height of 1.5 km above mean sea level.

“Another trough has extended from Bihar to Manipur across this cyclonic circulation. As a result, a large amount of moisture is entering the land from the Bay of Bengal. Due to its impact, rain and thunderstorms will continue across north and south Bengal,” the official said.

Meanwhile, scattered rain accompanied by thunderstorms will continue in Kolkata till Tuesday. Gusty winds with speeds of 30-40 kmph are also likely. Similar weather conditions have been forecast for the next few days in North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Jhargram and Purulia districts. However, heavy rain is likely in Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman and Murshidabad districts on Monday. No fresh warning has been issued for fishermen venturing into the sea.

Rainfall activity is likely to increase in south Bengal from Thursday. Heavy rain is likely in Howrah and North 24 Parganas districts that day. In addition, a warning of continuous heavy rain has been issued for South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia and Bankura districts from Thursday to Saturday.

Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rain is likely across north Bengal districts. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rain on Sunday and Monday. Heavy rain is also likely in the remaining districts of north Bengal. Rain is expected to continue across all districts of north Bengal till Tuesday. Heavy rain is also likely in Kalimpong and Alipurduar districts next Friday and Saturday.

The minimum temperature in Kolkata on Sunday morning was 28.4 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature recorded in the city on Saturday was 32.1 degrees Celsius, 0.7 degrees below normal.

–IANS

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