Will the Rain Impact Kolkata's Durga Puja Celebrations?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- New low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal.
- Rain likely in Kolkata from Saturday.
- Thunderstorms expected until Sunday.
- No heavy rain predicted before Saturday.
- Gusty winds of 30-40 km/h could accompany rain.
Kolkata, Sep 25 (NationPress) The Meteorological Department revealed on Thursday that a new low-pressure system is forming over the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to bring rain to Kolkata starting Saturday.
According to the Meteorological Department, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are forecasted to persist in southern Bengal districts, including Kolkata, until Sunday, coinciding with the traditional onset of Durga Puja. However, the weather office has dismissed the likelihood of heavy rainfall before Saturday.
A Meteorological Department official stated, "There is a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal near the Myanmar coast, which is gradually shifting westward. Consequently, a new low-pressure area will develop in the northern part of the Bay of Bengal today. This system is expected to evolve into a depression by Friday. By Saturday, the low pressure may make landfall through the southern coast of Odisha. As a result, light to moderate rain is anticipated across southern Bengal districts, including Kolkata, on Saturday."
Additionally, another cyclonic circulation may form in the Bay of Bengal on 'Ashtami', or September 30.
Thunderstorm activity may resume from September 30, though it is too early to determine the precise path of the weather system.
In the meantime, rain is expected in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Jhargram, and Bankura districts starting Friday. Heavy rainfall is possible in South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, West Midnapore, and Jhargram on Saturday.
Thunderstorms will continue across all southern districts until Sunday, with gusty winds reaching speeds of 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.
On the other hand, the probability of rain in northern Bengal remains low for the time being. Light rain accompanied by thundershowers and lightning may occur in some areas, but heavy rainfall is not expected. Rain is likely in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and North Dinajpur districts on Thursday.
A rain alert has also been issued for Cooch Behar on Friday. Rain may affect all districts of northern Bengal on Saturday.
The minimum temperature in Kolkata this morning was recorded at 26.4 degrees Celsius.