Sun-to-Wed date for monsoon in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Alipore weathermen announced on Wednesday that the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in South Bengal between June 18 and 21, with a relatively high chance of striking Kolkata on June 20.

“Conditions are becoming favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon over some more parts of South Peninsula and East India and adjoining areas between June 18 and 21 June,” stated the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) bulletin.
RMC director, GK Das, said that prior to the arrival of monsoon, most of days are likely to be dry with small chances of scattered rain. “From June 18, the chances of thunderstorms will increase. Until then there is less chance of rain. However, a trough of low passing from Bihar to the Bay of Bengal may bring some moisture into South Bengal, including Kolkata,” said Das.
With little to no rain until next week, the temperatures are likely to remain a three to four notches above normal. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature in Kolkata was 38.1° Celsius while nine other districts recorded heat wave-like temperatures of over 40° Celsius.
Asansol, Purulia and Bankura were worst hit with temperatures crossing 43° Celsius.
Das added that the pre-monsoon relief has been put on hold because of the development of Cyclone Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea. With the cyclone likely to make landfall on Thursday between Mandvi in Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan, the southwest monsoon and other major weather systems have been delayed by a few days.
The magnitude of Biparjoy in the Arabian Sea has inhibited the formation of relatively bigger weather systems on the east coast such as a cyclonic circulation of an area of low pressure, which are necessary to generate sufficient rainfall. Until Biparjoy’s landfall, the maximum temperature is likely to cover around 38° Celsius while the minimum is likely to pivot around 30° Celsius.