Kolkata Sees 49 pc Rain Deficit Despite Recent Showers; Week-Long Downpour Ahead-Check Forecast

Kolkata: Despite recent light to moderate rains, Kolkata ended June with a significant rain deficit of 49 pc. The rest of Gangetic Bengal fared worse, with a 67 pc shortfall. The Meteorological Department predicts more rain in the coming days.

The weather forecast for Kolkata over the next few days predicts a generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. On July 1 and 2, temperatures will range from a minimum of 27-28 degrees Celsius to a maximum of 32 degrees Celsius. Similar weather conditions are expected from July 3 to July 6, with temperatures slightly varying between 27 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius. There is a consistent possibility of rain or thunderstorms during this period, bringing some relief from the summer heat.

"Conditions are still favourable for light to moderate showers to continue in Kolkata for the next few days, which will keep temperatures from rising," said a weather scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata.

The Alipore weather office has also issued heavy rain alerts for some districts, including South and North 24 Parganas. Typically, Kolkata receives around 272.4 mm of rain in June, as per a TOI report. However, even with Saturday's 75 mm downpour, the total rainfall for June reached only about 143 mm, leaving a considerable shortfall.

Meteorologists blame the late arrival of the monsoon and a weak monsoon current for the deficit. This year, the southwest monsoon arrived nearly a week late. "Whenever the monsoon arrives late, we tend to see this kind of rain shortage. While South Bengal has a rain deficit, some areas in North Bengal have recorded a surplus," explained the Met official.

This is the fourth June in the past decade to experience a rain deficit. Only June 2021, 2020, and 2018 had a rain surplus, with June 2018 recording the highest at 419.7 mm. The wettest June on record for Kolkata was in 1984, with 946.2 mm of rain.

In the past 10 years, the highest 24-hour rainfall for June was on June 26, 2018, when Kolkata received 162.6 mm of rain. This June's wettest day was Saturday, with 75 mm of rain.

On Sunday, the maximum temperature dropped to 30.3 degrees Celsius, which is 2.3 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature remained around the normal mark at 27 degrees.