Kolkata weather alert: People in Kolkata faced heavy rain and waterlogging on Tuesday morning. After overnight downpours, several main roads were flooded, and the sky was overcast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for more rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds in many parts of South Bengal in the coming days.
Orange and Yellow Alerts in South Bengal
According to the IMD, a low-pressure area is expected to bring cloudy skies and thunderstorms to almost every district across South Bengal on Tuesday.
South 24 Parganas: An orange alert has been issued with a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall.
East and West Medinipur, North 24 Parganas, Kolkata, East Burdwan, Howrah, and Hooghly: A yellow alert has been issued for these districts, where heavy rain and winds of up to 30-40 kmph are expected.
Wind speeds could reach 40-50 kmph in South 24 Parganas and East Medinipur.
Rainfall activity is expected to gradually decrease in the districts of North Bengal. However, a yellow alert has been issued for Malda, North Dinajpur, and South Dinajpur on Tuesday due to thunderstorms and winds of 30-40 kmph. Only light to moderate rainfall is expected here from Wednesday.
Avoid these roads in Kolkata
Traffic has been severely affected due to rain and waterlogging. Commuters have been advised to avoid these routes for the time being:
AJC Bose Road
APC Roy Road
Maa Flyover (west side)
EM Bypass (especially Ruby Crossing)
Park Circus Connector
Sarat Bose Road (north side)
Ameer Ali Avenue
CR Avenue, Chittaranjan Avenue, MG Road, BB Ganguly Street, and Park Street
Waterlogging and traffic jams are common on these roads, so using alternative routes may be a better option.
Kolkata Temperature and Rainfall Data
According to the IMD, Kolkata recorded 0.3 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Tuesday. The maximum temperature was 30.5 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature was 27.1 degrees Celsius, slightly above average. The humidity level remained at 92%, causing humidity issues.
Upcoming Weather Forecast
September 22: Thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds at speeds of 30-40 kmph are expected.
September 23-26: Daily thunderstorms and winds of up to 40 kmph are expected.
September 27-28: Cloudy skies with a chance of rain or thunderstorms, though no formal warnings exist.
Both relief and trouble
The rains have brought relief from the heat and humidity, but they are also worsening traffic congestion and waterlogging in Kolkata and surrounding districts. This unstable weather poses a challenge for city residents at the start of the festive season.