Monsoon arrives at Gangetic West Bengal

Kolkata: Monsoon today reached Gangetic West Bengal nine days after its normal arrival date of June 8, reducing fears of a drought in the southern districts of the state that have been hit by severe heatwave conditions over the past few weeks.

The monsoon currents are, however, not very strong and it will take some more time for the intensity of the rainfall to rise, regional met office sources said here on Sunday.

Rain or thundershower would occur at many places in Gangetic West Bengal, the met office said in its forecast till tomorrow.


Three districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar in North Bengal have been experiencing heavy rainfall for the last several days and the monsoons have so far been normal in the upper reaches of the state.

The severe heatwave condition in southern and western districts of the state, with temperatures reaching up to 46.5 deg C at Panagarh in Burdwan district, has claimed the lives of over 60 people in the last couple of weeks.

The highest number of people died in Asansol, bordering the coal mine areas in Burdwan district, owing to severe heat conditions.

People in these districts heaved a sigh of relief with overcast skies bringing the temperature down and spells of rain cooling the parched ground.

The movement of the monsoon into Gangetic West Bengal, which was predicted to enter around Tuesday next, was hastened by a low pressure in north-west Bay of Bengal.

The metropolis was hit by rains last evening which continued into the night, recording a total rainfall of 35 mm till this morning, met department said. The downpour brought down night temperatures to 24.6 deg C, two notches below normal.

The day time highest temperature, which has been hovering around 40 deg C for the last few weeks, was a comfortable 34 deg C in Kolkata.
Kolkata Regional Weather Forecast of 22-06-2012   
   valid till noon of 23-06-2012   

• R.M.C.Kolkata Mid-day weather report dt.22-06-2012:-Southwest monsoon been active over Jharkhand and Orissa and subdued over Andaman & Nicobar Island. Heavy rain occurred at isolated places over Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar & Darjeeling district of SHWB. Rainfall occurred at most places over West Bengal & Sikkim; at many places over Jharkhanad & Orissa ; at a few places over over Bihar & at isolated places over A & N Islands. Chief amount of Rainfall in cm :- Kalingpong & Jamshedpur -10 each; Gaya, Sambalpur, Balasore, Nonepur,Pedong and Taibpur -9 each ; Sevoke & Chaibasa-8 each ; Jharsukda, irakud,& Phulbani-7 each. Sundargarh, -6; Canning, Darjeeling, Koraput - 5 each; Panagarh, Coochbehar, Bagdogra -4 each.
• Main synoptic features based on 0830 IST Observations dt.22-06-2012Yesterday's trough of low pressure from Uttar Pradesh to East central Bay of Bengal Now rus from Rajasthan to Eastcentral Bay of Bengal across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,Jharkhand,Gangetic WestBengal & North Bay. The cyclonic circulation over Orissa & adjoining areas now lies over Jharkhand and adjoining areas extending upto MTL tilting SW wards with height. The other cyclonic circulation over Bihar and adjoining East UP has become less marked.
• Weather forecast valid until 0830 Hrs. IST of 23-06-2012 :- Gangetic West Bengal :-Rain or thundershower would occur at most places.
• Sub-Himalayan West Bengal(SHWB) & Sikkim :-Rain or thundershower would occur at most places.
• Bihar :-Rain or thundershower would occur at many places.
• Jharkhand :-Rain or thundershower would occur at most places.
• Orissa :-Rain or thundershower would occur at most places.
• Andaman & Nicober Islands :-Rain or thundershower may occur at isolated places.
• Outlook valid until 0830 IST of 25-06-2012 :-Little change.