Kolkata: A cloud-covered sky with frequent spells of rain in between continued to keep the heat at bay in Kolkata on Friday. The Met office expects similar conditions on Saturday, after which the spells could become infrequent for a few days.
However, the Met office is keeping tabs on another system that is likely to develop over the Bay of Bengal by mid-next week. This system is potent enough to bring more rain to Kolkata and parts of south Bengal.
With the city recording a 25% rain deficit till Thursday, the Alipore Met office on Friday recorded 18.8 mm of rainfall until late evening. The maximum temperature, at 30.8°C, was 1.7 notches below the normal mark.
The monsoon trough currently passes through Bikaner, Kota, Guna, Damoh, Sambalpur, Puri, and then east-southeastwards to the central Bay of Bengal. This trough is likely to move a little closer to Bengal by Saturday.
"Kolkata received moderate rain on Friday. There is a possibility of similar rainfall in Kolkata on Saturday too, after which the chances of rain will dip for the next few days," said HR Biswas, the head of the weather forecast section at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata.
The Met office stated that there was a possibility of a low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal by mid-next week. This system could be potent enough to intensify into a depression. In that case, the city could get more rain.
"We are expecting this low-pressure area by Wednesday or Thursday, which could intensify into a depression. Once it forms and we know its position and path, we will be more certain of the magnitude of its impact," added Biswas. Even though there have been at least two low-pressure areas developing over the Bay of Bengal this month, none had any direct impact on Bengal.