Kolkata weather: Heavy rainfall causes waterlogging, IMD warns of more wet weather for the week

Kolkata witnessed heavy rainfall in the early hours of Tuesday, resulting in waterlogging in several areas. According to the India Metrological Department (IMD), the city received 185.6 mm of rainfall between 2:30 am ad 5:30 am.

A low-pressure area caused the heavy rainfall and the weather department has predicted that showers will continue in the already wet districts in the southern part of West Bengal till Wednesday morning.

Another low-pressure area is also forecasted to form on September 25, bringing more showers to the region, as per the Met office.


On Tuesday, the maximum hourly rainfall was recorded between 3 am and 4 am with the city receiving 98 mm rainfall in the period. However, this not satisfy the cloudburst criteria, IMD clarified.

Rainfall exceeding 100 mm in an hour over a 20 to 30 sq km area is defined as a cloudburst, as per the weather department.

The metropolis recorded 48.6 mm rainfall between 11.30 pm on Monday and 2.30 am on Tuesday, while 12.1 mm rainfall was recorded between 5.30 am and 8.30 am, the IMD said.

Further, the data revealed that Kolkata recorded extremely heavy rainfall of 251.4 mm in a 24-hour period till 8.30 am on Tuesday.

The Salt Lake area witnessed 230 mm rainfall during the same 24-hour period, it said.

The low pressure area was formed on Monday over the coastal areas of Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining north Odisha and the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday.

The low pressure area forming on September 35 is is very likely to cross south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts around September 27, the Met said.

Widespread light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely over some districts of south Bengal.

The Met said that heavy to very heavy downpour (7 to 20 mm) is very likely at one or two places over Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram and Bankura districts, while heavy rainfall (7 to 11 mm) will occur in Kolkata, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Purulia districts till Wednesday morning.

Light to moderate rainfall is very likely to occur in most of the other places in south Bengal till Saturday, it said.

The weather department has also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea over north Bay of Bengal and along and off West Bengal-Odisha coasts till Saturday.