The longing for the monsoon just got tedious.
According to a Met official on Sunday, the monsoon is expected to arrive in south Bengal after June 20.
On Sunday, Kolkata experienced yet another day, equal to a pressure cooker. The highest temperature was a few degrees over average, at 36.4. However, due to the excessive humidity, it felt like 49 degrees.
South Bengal is expected to endure humid and hot weather for a little while more, according to the forecast.
Islampur (North Dinajpur) remains the path of the monsoon’s northern boundary. The advisory stated that “conditions are favorable for further southwest monsoon advance into some parts of South Bengal and remaining parts of North Bengal during next 4-5 days.”
“Heat wave along with hot and humid weather conditions are likely to prevail in the western districts of south Bengal during the next two days. Rain/Thunderstorms and associated weather activity are likely to occur at a few places over the districts of south Bengal.”
On Monday, Purulia, West Burdwan, and West Midnapore are probably going to see extreme heat as well. The advisory stated that “hot and humid weather conditions are likely over Jhargram, Bankura, and Birbhum districts.”
However, the prolonged downpour in Sikkim and North Bengal over the past several days has resulted in numerous landslides that have blocked roads, damaged several houses, killed cattle and poultry, and disrupted road connectivity.
Even though the region was still experiencing intense rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a red alert for four districts in north Bengal and the neighboring state of Sikkim. The advisory also included a warning about potential flooding and landslides.
There have been between 1200 and 1500 tourists stuck in North Bengal and Sikkim since the region was cut off from the rest of the state on Thursday. Airlift operations are underway to rescue the tourists.
Meanwhile atleast 9 locals were killed in landslides in North and South Sikkim, according to the reports from Sikkim Government.
Officials said that a cyclonic circulation was over north Bangladesh and the surrounding areas, while a trough of low pressure was over north Bengal and Sikkim. In addition, winds blowing in from the Bay of Bengal were heavy with moisture. These systems were working together to bring Sikkim and north Bengal with intense rains.
Up until about June 17, the IMD in north Bengal issued a red alert for three districts: Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaiguri. Many rivers were seeing an increase in water level. According to officials, certain areas in the Alipurduar district received almost 210 mm of rain.
