Cyclone Murasu likely to bring light to moderate rain to Kolkata, south Bengal

The severe cyclonic storm crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday morning

Kolkata is likely to receive light to moderate rain as Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu moves north-northwestwards after crossing the south Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday morning. The weather system is expected to weaken gradually over the next few hours.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm crossed the coast between Nellore and Narasapur, close to Ongole, between 3.30am and 5.30am on November 3, with wind speeds of 100-110kmph and gusts reaching 120kmph.

The system was centred over south coastal Andhra Pradesh at 8.30am and was moving north-northwestwards at a speed of 8kmph. It is likely to weaken into a cyclonic storm by noon on Tuesday and further into a deep depression by midnight.

The weather bulletin issued by RMC Kolkata said light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at one or two places in Kolkata and several south Bengal districts till 8.30am on Wednesday. These include North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia.

However, no weather warning has been issued for West Bengal in association with the system.

The forecast indicates largely dry weather across south Bengal from Wednesday until November 9. Light to moderate rain may return to Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas and Nadia on November 9 and 10.

North Bengal is expected to remain mostly dry, with light rain or thundershowers likely at isolated places in Darjeeling and Kalimpong till Wednesday morning.

The storm is being monitored by Doppler weather radars in Chennai, Machilipatnam and Visakhapatnam. The RMC has also advised fishermen against venturing into the westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and along the south Odisha coast till Tuesday.