The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that Kolkata will experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers until Friday, October 30. Following this period, rainfall is anticipated to diminish, resulting in only light showers in select areas starting October 31.
Cyclone Arnab, classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, made landfall at the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Narsapur, early on Wednesday, October 28. The storm brought sustained winds of 125-135 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 150 km/h.
After making landfall, the storm weakened into a severe cyclonic storm positioned over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam. It is expected to continue moving north-northwest and downgrade into a cyclonic storm within the next six hours, eventually transforming into a deep depression shortly thereafter.
The surrounding areas, including Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, are expected to experience similar weather patterns, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers continuing until October 30, followed by lighter rainfall in some locations from October 31.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are also predicted for East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, and Purulia until October 30.
The IMD has indicated that the maximum temperature will gradually decrease by 2-4°C over the next two days, after which a slight increase of 2-3°C can be expected in the following days. No major temperature changes are forecasted for Gangetic West Bengal thereafter.
Yellow alerts have been issued for Kolkata and nearby districts, including Howrah, Hooghly, and North 24 Parganas, for October 28 and 29 due to the likelihood of thunderstorms and gusty winds of 30-40 km/h, along with possible lightning in certain areas. Stronger gusts of 40-50 km/h are anticipated in South 24 Parganas and East and West Midnapore during the same period.
Additionally, districts such as East and West Bardhaman, Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Nadia are also expected to see light to moderate rain or thundershowers until October 30.
In a fishermen’s advisory issued at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, the IMD warned of squally winds reaching 40-50 km/h, with gusts up to 60 km/h, along and off the West Bengal coast until October 29. Sea conditions are predicted to be rough to very rough, and fishermen are advised to refrain from venturing into the sea along the West Bengal and Odisha coasts, as well as the west-central and northwest Bay of Bengal until October 29.
The bulletin further stated that Local Cautionary Signal No. 3 has been raised at Hooghly ports (Kolkata and Haldia), along with Sectional Signal No. II at Sagar Island Port.
