Cyclonic circulation, low pressure to trigger thunderstorms: IMD
The Statesman | 25 July 2025
A cyclonic circulation is expected to form over the northern Bay of Bengal by Wednesday, prompting weather officials to issue heavy rainfall warnings for several districts in southern West Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread thunderstorms and heavy to very heavy rainfall across the region, beginning Wednesday and intensifying on Thursday.
According to the IMD, the cyclonic activity over the Bay of Bengal is likely to develop into a low-pressure area within the next 48 hours. Concurrently, three other cyclonic circulations have been observed over Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. The southwest monsoon remains active over the state, drawing significant moisture from the Bay of Bengal and contributing to the prevailing instability.
Weather conditions in southern West Bengal are expected to deteriorate from Thursday, with wind speeds reaching 30–40 km/h. Heavy (7–11 cm) to very heavy (7–20 cm) rainfall is likely in districts including South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, Purulia, and Bankura. An orange alert has been issued for these areas, while a yellow warning remains in effect for the rest of South Bengal.
However, heavy rain is forecast for Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Kalimpong later in the week. A yellow alert has been issued for Friday and Saturday, with continued rainfall likely through Monday. The expected downpours may also raise river water levels, increasing the risk of localised flooding in low-lying areas.