Thunderstorms in 5 Bengal districts, MeT office issues orange alert for tomorrow

The Alipore Meteorological Department has issued a significant weather warning for West Bengal, predicting intense thunderstorms and rain across the state. A trough extending from northern Uttar Pradesh through Chhattisgarh to southern Odisha has facilitated a massive influx of moisture from the Bay of Bengal, creating conditions favorable for storm activity. While heavy rainfall is primarily restricted to North Bengal, the southern districts are expected to experience moderate rain and high-velocity winds throughout the week, with a notable peak in intensity between Sunday and Tuesday.

For South Bengal, an orange alert has been issued for Monday specifically for five districts: Hooghly, Bankura, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, and Birbhum. These areas could witness squalls with wind speeds reaching up to 70 kmph. Kolkata is also under a yellow alert, with thunderstorms and gusty winds predicted to reach 40 to 50 kmph on Monday and Tuesday. Although the maximum temperature in the city was recorded at 33°C on Saturday, the mercury is expected to fluctuate before dropping slightly due to the cooling effect of the rain.

In North Bengal, the situation is more severe with heavy rain warnings for the sub-Himalayan districts, including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar. These hilly regions are likely to face heavy downpours accompanied by winds of 40 to 50 kmph through Sunday. The weather office has advised residents to remain cautious, particularly in open fields, due to the high probability of lightning strikes. The alert for the northern plains, including Malda and the Dinajpurs, remains in effect until Tuesday.