New Delhi: A heavy rainfall alert for West Bengal beginning May 28 (Wednesday) has been sounded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Intense showers are especially forecast over the Gangetic and Sub-Himalayan regions till May 31.
The IMD said scattered to fairly widespread rainfall is expected across the state from May 27 to May 31. The rain will be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds reaching 40–50 kmph. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Gangetic West Bengal between May 27 and 31. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim may see very heavy rain from May 29 to 31, the weather department predicated further.
Warnings for specific regions
Monsoon has strengthened and this has been driven by a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal, near the Odisha coast, which is likely to become more intense in the next 24 hours. Because of a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, the IMD has issued warnings for certain areas in West Bengal.
The alert points out that on May 29, south Bengal districts such as North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, and Howrah are likely to witness heavy rainfall, while Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar in North Bengal may get very heavy rainfall. On May 30, heavy to very heavy rain may lash East and West Burdwan, Bankura, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly. Extremely heavy rain may hit parts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar.
But, officials warned that the monsoon’s rapid advance may not continue for a very long time. While the low-pressure area is expected to boost its progress in the beginning, the monsoon could subside after 3–4 days due to intrusions of dry air from the mid-latitudes.
The IMD has also sounded a warning about thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) at isolated places in Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand on May 28. Fishermen have been advised to watch out and not venture into the Bay of Bengal and along coastal regions. Residents have been told to stay alert, especially in low-lying and flood-prone regions.
