More rain on the cards as low pressure moves closer to West Bengal

KOLKATA: A day after monsoon arrived in Kolkata, the city received moderate rain on Sunday. According to the Met office, the intensity of showers could increase slightly as the low-pressure that has been brewing over northwest Bay of Bengal close to the Odisha-Bengal coast, will move marginally closer to Bengal. Kolkata could receive around 100 mm rain between Saturday and Tuesday, said weathermen. Kolkata received 29.4 mm rain till 5.30pm on Sunday.
“The low-pressure hasn’t moved much since it is trapped between westerly and easterly winds. But it has moved slightly towards our state, which is why rain has turned more frequent. It will get more intense over the next 48 hours but we don’t expect heavy showers. There could be short, sharp spells that won’t last long but will be frequent, adding to the rain count,” Das pointed out.
Meanwhile, clouds have also been sailing into the state from Bangladesh, triggering short spells of rain. “These clouds have been driven away by the wind shear that now exists along the Bengal-Odisha coast. So, they are flying through Bangladesh and entering Bengal, much weakened. Again, the result has been short spells of rain,” added Das.
Each spell, though, could trigger 20 mm–30 mm rain from now on.
“But since there is no other big system, heavy showers are unlikely,” said Das.
Monsoon reached Kolkata on Saturday morning even as it rained intermittently, a day after its scheduled date of arrival. The city received short spells of drizzle through the day and will continue to receive light rain over the next 48 hours. Last year, too, monsoon had reached Kolkata on June 12.