Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Sep 28: West Bengal is likely to receive more rainfall ahead of the Durga Puja festivities as a fresh low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal and is expected to intensify in the coming days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.
The weather system has formed over southern coastal Myanmar and adjoining areas and is currently concentrated near the Myanmar coast. Meteorologists said it is likely to strengthen into a depression over the next few days.
If it develops into a depression, the system is expected to move gradually northwards. In view of its development, fishermen have been advised against venturing into the east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal along the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast.
The Met office said the system is not expected to directly affect West Bengal, although its subsequent movement could have some impact on the state.
Several districts in South Bengal received heavy rainfall last week under the influence of a deep depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal. Kolkata also experienced prolonged spells of rain during the period.
The deep depression later moved towards the coast and made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast. Its influence has weakened since Saturday, leading to a significant reduction in rainfall across West Bengal.
The Met office said there was currently no indication of widespread thunderstorms in the state, though the forecast could change depending on the movement and intensification of the new system.
"There is a low-pressure area over southern coastal Myanmar and adjoining areas. It moved into the Andaman Sea and became a well-marked low-pressure area on Sunday afternoon. It is expected to move further northwestwards by Monday and intensify into a depression. Thereafter, it will move northwards towards the sea adjoining the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast within two days," a Met department official said.
Under the influence of the system, gusty winds of 45 to 55 kmph are likely over the sea in the region, with wind speeds occasionally reaching 65 kmph.
The Met department has issued a warning to fishermen operating in the east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal near the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast from Monday to Wednesday. No warning has been issued for the West Bengal coast so far.
Meanwhile, Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 26.5 degrees Celsius on Monday morning, 0.5 degrees above normal.
The city's maximum temperature on Sunday was 32.4 degrees Celsius, 0.1 degrees below normal.