Cyclone Michaung was on the southwest Bay of Bengal on Sunday morning, gearing up for a Tuesday landfall in Andhra Pradesh.
Post-landfall, a depleted version of the storm — while passing through Odisha — is expected to trigger rain in Kolkata and surrounding areas in the middle of the week.
"Light rain is likely in Kolkata, North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and some other areas on Wednesday and Thursday. After landfall, Michaung will lose steam. By Wednesday, it is expected to be in Odisha as a depression or a well-marked low pressure," said G.K. Das, director, India Meteorological Department, Kolkata.
On Tuesday, light showers are expected in East and West Midnapore, Jhargram and South 24-Parganas.
By the weekend, the system will have dissipated, paving the way for the return of the northwesterly winds. The city will then have its first brush with December chill this winter.
"The minimum temperature is expected to slide to around 18 degrees when the cold winds return," said a Met official.
On Sunday, the minimum temperature was 21.6 degrees, five notches above normal.
As the cyclone nears land, it is expected to get stronger. Some clouds from its outer band are expected to reach Kolkata riding southeasterly winds. Moisture-laden northeasterly winds via Bangladesh are now dominant in the
city.
The storm is expected to "cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam in the forenoon of December 5 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100kmph gusting to 110kmph".