Residents of southern West Bengal will finally receive much-needed respite from the severe heatwave, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a forecast of continuous rainfall and thunderstorms across the region, starting Monday.

The downpour is expected to last for four consecutive days, bringing relief from sweltering temperatures. According to the IMD, several districts in South Bengal have already been experiencing rainfall since Saturday.

The weather agency has issued an orange alert for Hooghly, Paschim Medinipur, Purba Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Bardhaman, and Purba Bardhaman districts, forecasting a higher possibility of rainfall on Monday.

Besides rainfall in these areas, thunderstorms with gusty winds (60-70 kmph), and lightning are very likely at one or two places over Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, and Paschim Medinipur on Monday. The rest of South Bengal may experience similar weather with slightly lower wind speeds (50-60 kmph), while hailstorms are also likely in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, and Purulia.

On Wednesday, thunderstorms with gusty winds (40–50 kmph) are likely in most districts of South Bengal, and slightly weaker winds (30–40 kmph) may affect Jhargram, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, and Murshidabad.

On May 1, similar conditions with winds around 40–50 kmph are expected across South Bengal. This weather pattern is likely to continue until May 2.

“An upper air cyclonic circulation lies over Northeast Bangladesh at 0.9 km above mean sea level… Due to favourable wind patterns and moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal, moderate to severe thunderstorm activity is likely over the districts of West Bengal,” stated the IMD.