Heavy Rain Alert Issued for West Bengal Districts

The regional weather office in Alipore has announced that the monsoon will remain active across West Bengal today, bringing widespread rainfall to many districts. According to the India Meteorological Department, residents should prepare for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds in several parts of the state. The weather department has issued a warning for very heavy rainfall across the Gangetic region of West Bengal today.

Weather Patterns and Affected Districts

A cyclonic circulation currently exists in the upper atmosphere over the northwest Bay of Bengal. This system is expected to create a new low-pressure area over the northern Bay of Bengal within the next 48 hours. Districts including Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Malda, East and West Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, and East and West Midnapore will experience cloudy skies and rain. Authorities have advised fishermen to exercise caution due to adverse weather conditions in the sea between August 15 and August 19.

Forecast for North Bengal and Hill Areas

Cloudy weather and rain are expected to continue across Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda. The weather office has predicted heavy rainfall in the hilly and lowland regions of North Bengal starting from August 17. Conditions are expected to remain intense, with heavy showers and thunderstorms forecasted to persist through August 18 as well.

Safety Measures for Residents

Due to the ongoing weather warnings, the department has shared safety guidelines for the public. People are advised to avoid staying in open spaces during thunderstorms and to seek shelter immediately if lightning occurs. Additionally, residents in areas receiving continuous rain should remain alert for potential waterlogging and disruptions to local traffic movement.