Heavy rain with thundershowers to continue in South Bengal

August 7, 2025

Kolkata: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Kolkata and several districts in South Bengal, warning of continued light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and strong gusty winds (30-40 km/h) expected throughout the weekend.

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore, Kolkata, predicts heavy rainfall in districts such as Hooghly, East Burdwan, Bankura, South 24 Parganas, and Nadia.

Additionally, scattered areas in Birbhum, Murshidabad, East Burdwan, Bankura, West Midnapore, and South 24 Parganas are likely to experience light to moderate rain with thunderstorms, while Purulia may see heavy rain combined with gusty winds. The intensity of rainfall in South Bengal is expected to decrease starting Saturday.

The ongoing heavy rains are likely to worsen flood conditions in parts of West Midnapore, Howrah, and Hooghly districts. On Wednesday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 29.2°C—about 2 degrees below normal—and a minimum of 23.5°C, which is three degrees below normal. Humidity ranged from 98% at its peak to 89% at its lowest.

Meanwhile, in North Bengal, districts like Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar could experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, with additional heavy rainfall possible in Cooch Behar and Malda. A Met official explained that the monsoon axis from Bihar to Bangladesh, passing over Gangetic West Bengal, is bringing abundant moisture, leading to widespread rainfall. Rainfall intensity is expected to intensify in North Bengal from Thursday.

The heavy rain will likely cause water levels to rise further in the Teesta, Torsa, and Jaldhaka rivers, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas near these rivers. There is also a danger of landslides in the hills, with several recent landslides on NH-10 disrupting road connectivity between Sikkim and Siliguri in northern Bengal.