The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday warned of widespread rainfall across the state for next week due to the influence of the active monsoon trough and a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal.

A fresh low-pressure area is also likely to form over the northwest Bay of Bengal around September 2, which may intensify rainfall activity further in the state, the Met said.

It also warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph across all districts.

For south Bengal districts of North and South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Birbhum, and Nadia, the IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall for the following week. Kolkata can expect a mix of cloudy skies, thunderstorms, and heavy rain this week.

In North Bengal, the IMD has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall, warning of landslides in the hilly areas of Darjeeling district.

In the past 24 hours, the heaviest rainfall was recorded at Noweranuddi Tea Garden with 6 cm, followed by Gairkata, Jaybirpara (Alipurduar), Jalpaiguri, and Beech Tea Garden (Alipurduar) which all received 5 cm of rainfall each.

The Met has advised residents to take precautions against lightning strikes, particularly in open fields, and to avoid sheltering under trees or electric poles during thunderstorms.

(Anisha Ghosh is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express)