Cloud cover over state; Met predicts showers from Monday

KOLKATA: The missing monsoon showers are set to return to Kolkata early next week. After a three-day lull, during which the 'monsoon currents' had come to a grinding halt, the rain clouds finally surged ahead to cover the entire state on Friday. It could trigger sporadic showers in and around the city over the next 24 hours and heavier rainfall from June 19, predicted the Regional Meteorological Centre (

RMC

). On Friday, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 33.9°C.

Even though monsoon hit Kolkata and south

Bengal

on June12, showers have been scarce. Some parts of the city were lashed by rain on Thursday evening. But the localized showers were induced by a circulation over

Bangladesh

that intensified on Friday. “While it has turned into a low-pressure, it has already led to heavy rain in Nadia, Burdwan, Bankura, Murshidabad and Midnapore. Unfortunately, the showers have been sporadic in

North

and South 24 Parganas. But we expect the low-pressure to trigger showers in Kolkata within the next 24 hours,“ said

G K Das

, director, RMC.

The rain, however, will be moderate till Monday, Das added. “It will take some time for the monsoon currents to get revived. Now that they cover Bengal, the currents will get stronger and start triggering heavier, consistent, monsoon rain from Monday,“ he said. Weathermen hoped the revived currents will get stronger. “In June, Kolkata receives sporadic showers. It takes about a couple of weeks for monsoon to intensify in the region. Also, south Bengal has to depend on cyclonic circulations and lowpressures to pull in the monsoon currents and keep them active. Over the last week, we have had none,“ said Das.

But the intensifying low pressure over Bangladesh could make a difference. According to the Met office, it has the potential to precipitate lingering showers by next week. This will help bring down the temperature and humidity. “The mercury has started sliding ever since the rain on Thursday evening. We expect a spell on Saturday, which could bring the temperature down further,“ said a weather department official.

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