The city is likely to get rain and thunderstorms between May 2 and 6, a Met official said, raising hopes of a brief respite from a prolonged heat spell.

The city has had just a single squall and not a single Nor’wester in April, making the start of summer uncomfortably hot.

A trough of low pressure is likely to trigger the rain and thunderstorms.

“Under the influence of the system, Calcutta and North 24-Parganas experienced gusts of wind on Friday night. The intensity of the winds will go up in the coming days,” said a Met official.

“A cyclonic circulation over Madhya Pradesh has led to the formation of a trough of low pressure…. The system is moving towards Bengal and will draw significant moisture from the Bay. As a result, enhanced thunderstorm activity is likely over Bengal during May 2-6,” read a statement issued by the Met department on Friday evening.

The rain is likely to be accompanied by gusts of wind blowing at over 50kmph, the statement said.

“Normally, the period between end-March and the middle of June is known as the period of Nor’westers. There are about eight to nine Nor'westers every season. But this year it has been unusually dry,” said a Met official.