Downpour in north Bengal. Just heat and humidity in south Bengal.
The monsoon so far has thrown up contrasting pictures in West Bengal. The tables are likely to turn in the first week of July, according to the Met office.
“A trough of low pressure extends from Uttar Pradesh to east Assam. Bihar and north Bengal are under the trough. As a result, moisture from the Bay of Bengal is moving towards north Bengal,” said G.K. Das, director, India Meteorological department, Kolkata.
South Bengal, including Kolkata, is not devoid of moisture. Some areas have seen light rain. But the monsoon currents are much stronger in the hills than in the plains, said Met officials.
The result is stark. The districts of north Bengal have received 660mm of rain since June 1, compared with the normal quota of 444mm, according to Met records. South Bengal has got only 123mm, compared with the normal quota of 227mm.
Kolkata, slated to get around 260mm during this period, has got around 114mm.
But the monsoon is still in the early phase and one or two spells of heavy rain can narrow the gap, said Met officials.
The trough is likely to come slightly down over the next 48 hours, said a Met official. “The conditions will then become slightly more favourable for rain in south Bengal,” said the official.
The chances of rain will brighten from July 2, when a cyclonic circulation is likely to take shape over the North Bay of Bengal.
“In that case, July 2 to 5 is likely to see a fair amount of rain in south Bengal, including the coastal areas like Kolkata,” the official said.