A big change in the weather is happening across West Bengal because of Nor’wester (or Kalbaisakhi) activity, bringing thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds until April 21st. Even with the occasional rain and wind, heatwave conditions will continue in many districts. Warnings have been issued, and people should prepare for sudden storms and short, heavy bursts of rain.
Statewide summary and timeline
Both South and North Bengal are forecast to have more intense thunderstorms and winds through April 21st. In western South Bengal, these will start sooner, and in parts of North Bengal, there will be heavy rain in the hills and stormy weather. The weather experts say the next few days will be the most active, with some areas seeing the storms calm down by April 19th.
Wind speeds will generally be between 30 and 50 kmph, but in some places they could reach 50 to 60 kmph. The rain will be anything from a few drops and a distant rumble of thunder to heavier showers, and especially heavier downpours in the hills. Conditions will change quickly, so people should make plans for that.
South Bengal forecast: thunderstorms amid heatwave conditions
From Wednesday onwards, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur can expect thunderstorms with lightning and 40-50 kmph winds. Most of South Bengal will have scattered showers, but it won’t be raining across the whole area all the time. These occasional showers will provide a little relief, but they won’t end the heatwave quickly.
Heat warnings are still in place for Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, and Paschim Bardhaman. Over the next two days, the highest temperatures in South Bengal could go up by as much as 2 degrees Celsius. Then, the showers should bring the daytime highs down. The heat combined with a lot of moisture in the air will continue to make things uncomfortable in these districts.
North Bengal outlook: heavy hill rain and continued storms
North Bengal is also on alert. Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri are all expecting thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds. The heaviest rain is likely to be in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, where the wind might get to 50 kmph. Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Kalimpong will likely have light to moderate rain up to Saturday.
The thunderstorm activity in parts of North Bengal should last until April 19th, but the higher districts and Uttar Dinajpur might have light rain and thunder up to April 21st. Malda and Dakshin Dinajpur will probably have less rain after April 19th, but other districts could still have isolated storms.
Kolkata and adjoining districts: cloudy skies with isolated thundershowers
Kolkata and the surrounding areas of North and South 24 Parganas might get a few light, isolated thundershowers in the next 24 hours, but it isn’t expected to rain widely yet. The sky will be cloudy and damp, and temperatures will stay high. The lowest temperature is predicted to be around 27 degrees Celsius.
The Alipore Meteorological Department says Bankura, East Burdwan, West Burdwan, Birbhum, Nadia and North 24 Parganas could all have light to moderate rain and thunderstorms. There’s a chance of strong winds and lightning in places, so people should be careful during the afternoons and evenings.
Precautions, travel impact, and short-term outlook
During thunderstorms, don’t go to open spaces or unsafe buildings, and stay inside when there’s lightning. Make sure anything that could blow away – like loose roof tiles, signs and sheds – is secured, because winds of 30-60 kmph could cause damage. Drivers should be careful on wet roads and expect their view to change quickly in heavy rain.
Officials suggest you have an emergency kit ready, check the local weather forecast and follow official guidance. The forecast for the next week is for Kalbaisakhi activity to continue with changes in the heat and humidity. The rain will cool things down for a bit, but the continuing warm air will likely mean heatwave conditions continue in many areas until the weather changes more completely.
