Kolkata, May 15 -- Kolkata and other parts of south Bengal may witness the arrival of the southwest monsoon earlier than usual this year, as the India Meteorological Department has indicated that the monsoon is likely to hit Kerala around May 26, nearly five days ahead of its normal onset. The development has raised hopes of an early advance of rain-bearing clouds towards eastern India, including West Bengal.
The monsoon generally reaches south Bengal around June 10, bringing relief from the intense summer heat and humidity. If the current weather pattern continues, Kolkata could experience pre-monsoon showers and the seasonal rains slightly ahead of schedule this year. Meteorologists say favourable atmospheric conditions over the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea are supporting the early movement of the system.
For residents of Kolkata, where temperatures and humidity have remained high over the past few weeks, the possibility of an early monsoon has come as welcome news. The city has already experienced scattered thunderstorms in recent days, and weather experts believe such activity could increase as the monsoon progresses closer to Bengal.
While an early onset often signals quicker relief from the summer discomfort, experts have pointed out that the timing of arrival does not automatically indicate the overall volume of seasonal rainfall. With Kolkata now looking toward the skies, all eyes remain on the Bay of Bengal as the city awaits what could be an early taste of the monsoon.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.