Bengal thunderstorms forecast till May 5; vote count day faces rain alert
Synopsis
As West Bengal prepares to count votes for its Assembly elections across 77 centres on Monday, the IMD has forecast thunderstorms and rain through May 5 — a weather system driven by a cyclonic circulation stretching from Haryana to Manipur. North Bengal districts including Darjeeling and Kalimpong face heavy rain, while fishermen have been barred from the sea till May 3.
Key Takeaways
IMD has forecast thunderstorms and rain across South Bengal and Kolkata till May 5 .
Monday's West Bengal Assembly vote counting across 77 centres is likely to be affected by rain and thunderstorms.
Thunderstorm activity has persisted since April 29 across Kolkata and South Bengal districts.
Thunderstorm warnings issued for East Midnapore , Hooghly , Howrah , North 24 Parganas , South 24 Parganas , and Nadia .
Fishermen prohibited from going to sea until May 3 ; five North Bengal districts including Darjeeling and Kalimpong face heavy rain for four days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms accompanied by rain across South Bengal districts and Kolkata till May 5, with the weather system likely to affect the counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly polls on Monday, when 77 counting centres across the state will be in operation.
Vote Counting Day Under Weather Watch
According to the IMD forecast, there is a high probability of thunderstorms and rain on Monday — the day scheduled for counting of votes in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The development has raised concerns about logistics and movement across the state's 77 counting venues. Thunderstorm activity has been recorded continuously across Kolkata and South Bengal districts since April 29, with gusty winds bringing some relief in the evenings despite high daytime humidity.
What Is Driving the Weather System
The IMD has attributed the persistent thunderstorm activity to an east-west axis of cyclonic circulation stretching from north Haryana to Manipur, passing through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Bangladesh, and Assam. This system is drawing a large volume of water vapour into West Bengal from the Bay of Bengal, creating sustained conditions favourable for thunderstorms and rainfall. The pattern is expected to persist through at least next Tuesday.
District-Wise Alerts and Fishermen Advisory
For Saturday, the sky over Kolkata is forecast to remain cloudy, with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms likely by evening. The IMD has issued thunderstorm warnings for East Midnapore, Hooghly, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Nadia districts. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until May 3, as conditions remain unsafe along the coast.
North Bengal Also in the Crosshairs
The weather system is not confined to the south. Five North Bengal districts — including Darjeeling and Kalimpong — are likely to receive heavy rainfall over the next four days, accompanied by thunderstorms. Scattered hail and thundershowers have also been forecast for the rest of the state. Notably, while the thunderstorms have brought down both minimum and maximum temperatures, sweltering conditions due to high humidity are expected to persist through the daytime hours.
What to Expect in Coming Days
The unsettled weather is set to continue through the week, with no significant break forecast before Tuesday. Authorities managing the vote-counting process are expected to factor in the weather conditions for personnel deployment and crowd management across the 77 counting centres. The situation will be closely monitored as Monday's counting day approaches.
Point of View
Delay result declarations, and complicate security logistics. What the IMD forecast underscores is the need for contingency planning that election authorities rarely publicise in advance. The cyclonic circulation driving this system is unusually wide-ranging, spanning Haryana to Manipur, suggesting this is not a localised squall but a sustained regional pattern that deserves more attention than a routine weather advisory.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Will rain affect West Bengal Assembly vote counting on Monday?
Yes, the IMD has forecast a high probability of thunderstorms and rain on Monday, the day scheduled for counting of votes across 77 centres in West Bengal. Authorities are expected to factor in weather conditions for logistics and personnel deployment.
Which South Bengal districts are under thunderstorm warning?
The IMD has issued thunderstorm warnings for East Midnapore, Hooghly, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Nadia districts as part of its forecast valid till May 5.
Why is West Bengal experiencing persistent thunderstorms?
According to the IMD, an east-west axis of cyclonic circulation stretching from north Haryana to Manipur — passing through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Bangladesh, and Assam — is drawing large amounts of water vapour from the Bay of Bengal into the state, creating sustained conditions for thunderstorms and rain.
Is North Bengal also affected by the weather system?
Yes, five North Bengal districts including Darjeeling and Kalimpong are expected to receive heavy rainfall over the next four days, accompanied by thunderstorms and scattered hail across the rest of the state.
Are fishermen in Bengal allowed to go to sea?
No, fishermen have been prohibited from venturing into the sea until May 3, as weather conditions along the coast remain unsafe due to the ongoing thunderstorm activity.
