Orange alert for heavy rain in 8 south Bengal districts, low-pressure active
Synopsis
A low-pressure system over the region has pushed the RMC to issue an orange alert for eight south Bengal districts — including Kolkata — on 3 September, with 78.2 mm already recorded in the city on Wednesday alone. North Bengal faces an even sharper threat, with Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar bracing for extremely heavy rainfall over the coming days.
Key Takeaways
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) , Kolkata, issued an orange alert for 8 south Bengal districts on 3 September .
Alerted districts include Kolkata , North 24 Parganas , South 24 Parganas , Howrah , Hooghly , Nadia , East Burdwan , and Birbhum .
Gusty winds of 30–40 kmph and frequent thunderstorms are expected; waterlogging risk is high in low-lying areas.
Kolkata recorded 78.2 mm of rain on Wednesday; minimum temperature stood at 25.5°C , 0.8 degrees below normal .
Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar in north Bengal face a forecast of extremely heavy rainfall over the coming days.
Rainfall activity in south Bengal may ease briefly from Friday before intensifying again from Monday .
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Kolkata on Thursday, 3 September issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall across eight south Bengal districts over the next 24 hours, citing an active low-pressure area over the region. The warning covers one of the most densely populated stretches of West Bengal, raising immediate concerns about waterlogging and disruption.
Districts Under Orange Alert
The Meteorological Department has placed Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, East Burdwan, and Birbhum under the orange alert. Gusty winds of 30–40 kmph are expected at isolated locations, and frequent thunderstorms may strike parts of the warned zone during the alert period.
Rainfall had already begun across Kolkata and adjoining areas since Thursday morning, with widespread thunderstorms forecast for later in the day. Low-lying areas across southern districts face a heightened risk of waterlogging as heavy showers continue.
Temperature and Rainfall Readings
The minimum temperature in Kolkata was recorded at 25.5 degrees Celsius, which is 0.8 degrees below normal. Wednesday's maximum temperature remained 2.9 degrees below normal, reflecting the cloud cover and sustained rainfall. The city recorded 78.2 mm of rainfall on Wednesday alone — a significant single-day accumulation.
Outlook for South Bengal
The RMC said heavy rainfall is also likely in Birbhum and Murshidabad districts on Thursday. Rainfall activity across south Bengal may ease slightly from Friday, though scattered thunderstorms are expected to persist. Weather conditions could intensify again across the southern districts from Monday, suggesting the low-pressure system is not dissipating quickly.
North Bengal Situation
North Bengal has been experiencing intense rainfall over the past several days, and the pattern is expected to continue. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar are all forecast to receive heavy rain on Thursday. Notably, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar face a forecast of extremely heavy rainfall in the coming days — a step above the orange-alert threshold — while North Dinajpur is also in the heavy-rain zone.
Heavy rain is expected to continue across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and Alipurduar on Friday as well, with Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar likely to see sustained heavy showers for several more days thereafter, according to the Met office statement. This comes amid a broader pattern of above-normal monsoon activity across eastern India in the first week of September.
Point of View
Not just rural hinterland. The 78.2 mm single-day reading in Kolkata on Wednesday already tests the city's notoriously strained drainage network. What the forecast does not address is preparedness: with Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar facing an 'extremely heavy' classification and north Bengal already saturated over several days, the risk of flash flooding and landslides in the hills is real and under-reported in the current advisory cycle.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which districts are under orange alert for rain in West Bengal on 3 September?
The RMC Kolkata has placed eight south Bengal districts — Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia, East Burdwan, and Birbhum — under an orange alert for heavy rain over the next 24 hours from 3 September.
What is causing the heavy rainfall in West Bengal?
The Met office has attributed the heavy rainfall to an active low-pressure area over the region. Such systems typically draw in moisture from the Bay of Bengal and can sustain intense rainfall across multiple districts for several days.
How much rain did Kolkata receive on Wednesday?
Kolkata recorded 78.2 mm of rainfall on Wednesday, 3 September, with the maximum temperature also running 2.9 degrees below normal, reflecting persistent cloud cover and active monsoon conditions.
Will the rain continue in south Bengal beyond Thursday?
The Met office says rainfall activity in south Bengal may ease slightly from Friday, with scattered thunderstorms continuing. However, weather conditions could intensify again across southern districts from Monday as the system evolves.
What is the situation in north Bengal?
North Bengal is witnessing intense and sustained rainfall. Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar face a forecast of extremely heavy rainfall over the coming days, while Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and North Dinajpur are under heavy-rain warnings through Friday and beyond.
