Expect series of storms over next three days: Met

Kolkata: Cyclone Fani, now moving towards the Andhra-Odisha coast, could end the scorching spell in the city and its surrounding areas on May 1. Set to develop into a very severe cyclonic storm by Wednesday, Fani could infuse moisture into Gangetic Bengal and trigger thunderstorms across several south Bengal districts, including Kolkata, till May 3. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) is yet to specify the areas that could be lashed by storms.
“Fani will bring in moisture, which, coupled with intense heating that the region has received for a week, will result in thunderstorms for three days from May 1. Wind could blow at a speed of 40km/hr to 60km/hr. On May 3, some areas of East and West Midnapore, North and South 24 Parganas could receive heavy rain,” said deputy director-general of meteorology AK Sen.
Since the final path of cyclone Fani remains uncertain, the impact on Gangetic Bengal is yet to be assessed. Weathermen believe it will move northwestwards after turning into a severe cyclone on Wednesday, move along the Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Odisha coasts and then recurve north-northeastwards. It may not hit land in India. “The recurve possibility makes the impact on Gangetic Bengal unclear. We can’t yet identify the districts that could be lashed by thunderstorms. But Kolkata is likely to be affected,” added Sen.
Fani is now developing over southeast Bay of Bengal and moving northward at a speed of 4km/hr. On Monday morning, it was located 870km east-southeast of the Chennai coast and 1,040km south-southeast of Macchlipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. “As it moves along the coast, it will lead to squally winds that may reach a speed of 120km/hr. The impact is going to be severe in Odisha. But Bengal is unlikely to witness cyclonic weather. It will receive thunderstorms, not continuous spells of rain and wind,” explained Sen. Fishermen in Bengal and Odisha have been advised to not to venture into the sea between May 1 and May 3.
Meanwhile, the scorching spell continued in Kolkata with the mercury refusing to slide down. Absence of moisture prevented a thunderstorm and delayed relief, said an RMC official. Warm northwesterly winds continued to blow into the city. At 3pm on Monday, it felt like 44°C in the open, according to a private weather forecasting service. The maximum temperature on Monday stood at 35.8°C.