The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued the alert for Kolkata and much of West Bengal for April 9 because of rain, thunderstorms and strong winds; the atmosphere is in a state where these are likely to happen. Residents should be prepared for storms and gusty winds all day.
Current conditions in Kolkata and South Bengal
Kolkata woke up to overcast skies and sticky air. The lowest temperature recorded was around 21.8°C, and the temperature got to around 32.0°C yesterday. The amount of moisture in the air has been from about 58% to 95%, and this is making the lower part of the atmosphere less stable.
The Alipore Meteorological Office says there will be thunderstorms and lightning later today, and they will get stronger as the evening goes on. Winds in the city will likely be 30-40 kilometers per hour, and in some places even stronger.
Meteorological factors driving the storms
Several things are coming together to cause these storms. Moisture is continually coming in from the Bay of Bengal and making storm clouds over the area, which increases the chance of heavy showers and lightning.
An area of low pressure stretching from northwest Uttar Pradesh to Manipur, and a swirling air system higher up over Chhattisgarh, are pushing air upwards. Another low pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana is pulling in even more moist air.
Areas likely to be affected and expected impacts
East Midnapore, North and South t 24 Parganas, Howrah, Nadia, and Kolkata in South Bengal will likely have light to moderate rain, with thunderstorms and lightning, on April 9. Winds will probably be 30-40 km/h, and in some places stronger.
North Bengal will probably have worse weather, with quite a lot of rain and thunderstorms in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Cooch Behar, and Alipurduar. In parts of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri, there could be a lot of rain in one place-up to about and 110 mm.
Storms like a Kalbaisakhi (with very sudden strong winds and hail) are likely in Malda, North and South Dinajpur and Darjeeling. The winds could be 50-60 km/h, and in a few places 80 km/h, which is a risk to buildings and trees.
Safety advice and precautions for residents and authorities
Officials have said to be careful of lightning, damage to flimsy buildings, trees being blown over, and power and phone lines being cut off. During a thunderstorm, people should stay inside and not go under trees or close to electricity poles.
If you’re driving in heavy rain, you should slow down and leave more space between your car and the vehicle in front, because you might not be able to see as well. Farmers should protect their crops, and emergency teams should make sure anything that could blow away outside is secured, including signs.
Fishermen on the coasts of West Bengal and the nearby part of north Odisha are being told to stay out of the sea for at least 24 hours. Winds near 60 km/h or more will make the sea rough and dangerous.
Short-term outlook and impact on events including IPL match
The stormy weather in South Bengal is expected to last until Thursday, and some rain will continue into Friday. From April 10th, things should slowly get better, and the rain will be more in separate spots; most of South Bengal should be dry by the weekend.
North Bengal might have showers and storms until Friday, and there could be some light to moderate rain from April 10th to 14th. Temperatures during the day will stay the same on April 9th, but they should go up by 4-6°C from April 10th as the storms calm down.
The important Kolkata Knight Riders versus Lucknow Super Giants cricket match at Eden Gardens for the IPL 2026 is still likely to go ahead, even though there has been a lot of heavy rain. By the time the coin is tossed at 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time, the chance of rain should be nearly zero, and the temperature will be 24-27°C during the match.
Because the air is very damp (about 79%), there will probably be dew in the evening. This could help the team batting second, as it will be harder for the bowlers to get a good grip on the ball. The grass might still be wet from the rain this morning, and the people looking after the ground might need extra time to make sure it’s safe to play on.
Be prepared, keep an eye on official IMD information, and follow what local officials say until the weather gets better. Being careful now can lower the danger and help people and towns get back to normal more quickly after the storms.
