Kolkata, July 11 (IANS) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Kolkata’s Alipore area on Saturday predicted more rain in south Bengal districts and Kolkata over the next four to five days which will prolong the current spell of rain.

Kolkata and south Bengal districts have been receiving moderate to heavy rain since last Sunday (July 5). With monsoon winds gaining momentum due to favourable conditions, the present low pressure will bring in more rain.

Habibur Rahman Biswas, Eastern Regional Director of RMC, said, “There is a cyclone circulation over gangetic West Bengal and Bangladesh. The monsoon axis extends from Rajasthan to Mizoram in north-eastern India. Since the low pressure axis is slightly north, the intensity of rain will be higher in Bengal. Fishermen have been banned from going to sea on Saturday and Sunday due to rough seas.”

A ‘Yellow Alert’ for rain has been issued in all districts of south Bengal. Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast today in East Burdwan, Nadia, Bankura districts. There is an ‘Orange Alert’ in place in these three districts.

In addition, scattered heavy rains are predicted in several districts including Birbhum, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas and Howrah. There is a possibility of moderate rain in Kolkata on Saturday. Scattered light to moderate rains are likely for the next four to five days.

Meanwhile, heavy to very heavy rain is likely in most of the upper districts of north Bengal today. ‘Yellow Alert’ for heavy rain is in place in all districts. An ‘Orange Alert’ warning of very heavy rain is in place in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts. Orange warning of very heavy rain will remain in force in these three districts till Sunday.

On Friday, the maximum temperature in Kolkata and its surrounding areas was 28.6 degrees Celsius, which is 4.2 degrees Celsius below normal. The minimum temperature was 26.8 degrees Celsius, which is 0.1 degrees Celsius below normal. The relative humidity in the air was maximum 98 per cent and minimum 95 per cent.

–IANS

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