Rain likely on Sunday but no heat respite in West Bengal: Met

KOLKATA: Cyclone Mocha's landfall in southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar on Sunday may bring some scattered thundershowers to Kolkata and other districts, but not enough to provide respite from the heatwave-like conditions in south Bengal. On Thursday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 38.1°C.
The state, which had been issuing warnings about the impending cyclone till earlier this week, has now issued an alert against sustained exposure to sun and dehydration.
"We are keeping a close watch on the heatwave-like situation and its fallout on health. The health department was also alerted for the treatment of heat-related ailments," said an official at Nabanna.
On Tuesday, 12 districts recorded a maximum temperature of over 40°C, a trend that is likely to continue and worsen for at least the next five days. For over three days, the temperature in Kolkata had been straddling 38°C and 39°C, but Alipore weathermen said this could cross 40°C any day.
Meanwhile, the uncomfortable weather conditions across the state have been characterised by unusual dryness for this time of year, as the formation of low pressure over the Bay of Bengal prevents moisture from entering from the coast.
Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) director G K Das said only after the cyclone makes landfall may we expect some mild to moderate thundershowers, but not enough to reduce temperatures significantly.
On Thursday, the RMC issued a bulletin stating that Mocha would make landfall around noon on Sunday between Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, and Kyaukpyu, Myanmar, as a very severe cyclonic storm with maximum sustained wind speed of 150kmph-160kmph, gusting to 175kmph.
While Bangladesh and Myanmar have started their coastal evacuation protocols, the Indian Meteorological Department said the impact on Bengal would not be severe.
However, the RMC has warned Bengal fishermen to avoid venturing into the northern Bay of Bengal until after Sunday. Those fishermen who are currently in deep sea have been advised to return to the coast.