Cyclone Montha to drench West Bengal till Oct 31, IMD warns of heavy rain and thunderstorms

The weather pattern will likely continue into Thursday, with similar conditions in Malda, North and South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong. (Image credit: @mda524360/X)

The impact of Cyclone Montha is being felt in West Bengal as it continues to move inland after hitting the Andhra Pradesh coast. The system is expected to bring widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across both North and South Bengal till Friday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue multiple weather alerts.

Cyclone Montha: Yellow and orange alerts in North Bengal

North Bengal districts are likely to witness light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms on Wednesday, according to the IMD. A yellow alert has been issued for Malda, North and South Dinajpur, and Jalpaiguri due to the possibility of lightning and isolated heavy rainfall.

The weather pattern will likely continue into Thursday, with similar conditions in Malda, North and South Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong. By Friday, the situation could intensify, as an orange alert has been sounded for Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, and Alipurduar, where ‘heavy’ to ‘very heavy’ rainfall is forecast.

Cyclone Montha: Heavy rains likely in South Bengal

In South Bengal, heavy rainfall (7-11 cm) is very likely in South 24 Parganas, Jhargram, and East and West Midnapore on Wednesday, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds up to 55 kmph along the coast. The IMD has placed these regions under a yellow alert.

The rain belt is expected to shift on Thursday, affecting Purulia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, and West Bardhaman. Heavy rain could continue into Saturday in Birbhum and Murshidabad.

Warnings and safety advisories from IMD

The IMD has urged residents of hilly and coastal regions to exercise caution, warning of possible landslides in northern hill districts and waterlogging in urban areas. Lightning strikes are a concern, especially in open fields and agricultural zones.

Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast till at least Thursday, as sea conditions are expected to remain rough.

The IMD has also warned of partial crop damage, disruption to road traffic, and temporary power outages due to strong winds and fallen trees.

Kolkata weather outlook

In Kolkata, the weather is expected to remain partly cloudy with intermittent heavy showers and thunder on Wednesday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 31°C and 25°C, respectively. Similar weather conditions are expected through Thursday and Friday, with a gradual rise in temperature forecast from Saturday.