Rain on the cards for Kolkata as Cyclone Murasu intensifies over Bay of Bengal

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers in Kolkata and several south Bengal districts

Kolkata is likely to experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers over the next three days as Cyclonic Storm Murasu intensifies over the Bay of Bengal and moves towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday.

The storm, which developed from a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal, intensified into a deep depression early on November 1 before becoming a cyclonic storm at 11.30am.

According to the IMD, Murasu is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the westcentral Bay of Bengal by the morning of November 2. It is then expected to move northwestwards and cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast with wind speeds of 100-110kmph, gusting to 120kmph, between Nellore and Narsapur.

The IMD has said there is currently no weather warning for West Bengal in connection with Cyclone Murasu, although the system is under continuous surveillance.

For south Bengal, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at one or two places across all districts until the morning of November 3.

On November 3, similar conditions are likely in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia, while dry weather is expected in the remaining districts.

Dry weather is likely to prevail across south Bengal from November 4 to 8.

In north Bengal, light rain or thundershowers are likely at one or two places across all districts until November 3. On November 3, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar may receive light rain or thundershowers, while the remaining districts are likely to experience dry weather.

Dry conditions are expected across north Bengal from November 4 to 8.

The IMD has forecast squally weather over the northwest Bay of Bengal adjoining the westcentral Bay and along and off the south Odisha coast from the morning of November 2.

Wind speeds are likely to reach 40-50kmph, gusting to 60kmph, before increasing to 50-60kmph, gusting to 70kmph, from the evening of November 2 until noon on November 3. The conditions are expected to gradually ease thereafter.

The sea is likely to remain rough to very rough from the evening of November 2 until the afternoon of November 4.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the westcentral Bay of Bengal, adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal and along the south Odisha coast from November 2 to 4. However, the IMD has issued no specific warning for the Bengal coast.