Kolkata, July 4 (IANS) The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Alipore has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, till Monday, as a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a depression. 

“A low pressure is present in the northwest Bay of Bengal. It will increase in strength and turn into a depression. Then this new system will move west and northwest. This will cause heavy to very heavy rain in south Bengal districts till Monday. Due to this, the sea in the north Bay of Bengal will remain rough. Accordingly, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till Monday,” said the official.

However, there is no sign of heavy rain in North Bengal for now.

The Met office said scattered heavy rainfall is likely in parts of south Bengal on Saturday, particularly in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts. Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph is expected across all south Bengal districts.

An orange alert for very heavy rain is in effect in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore. A yellow alert for heavy rain is in effect in Jhargram, West Midnapore and Howrah districts for Sunday. A yellow alert for heavy rain will be in force in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, and East Burdwan and West Burdwan. A scattered heavy rain warning is in place in the rest of the districts.

Yellow alerts for heavy rainfall will continue on Monday in East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura, Purulia, South 24 Parganas, West Burdwan and Birbhum districts. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are also likely in parts of South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In contrast, North Bengal is not expected to witness any major rainfall activity till Monday. However, all districts in the region remain under a yellow alert for light to moderate rain and lightning.

Meanwhile, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 33.2 degrees Celsius on Friday, 0.6 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 26.7 degrees Celsius, which was normal for the season.

–IANS

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