Kolkata to wait for few more days for Monsoon

Kolkata, June 20 (UNI) Kolkata will have to remain parched for a few days more, as the monsoon current over the city and the rest of South Bengal is too weak to bring in the rains.

However, the Met office raised hopes of the prolonged sultry weather coming to an end soon with an upper-air cyclonic circulation near Myanmar.

Kolkatans can also expect a brief respite from the sweltering heat in the next 24 hours, if the weather gods smile with some light showers in the evening.

''The monsoon current over Gangetic West Bengal continues to be weak,'' Director Regional Meteorological Centre, Alipore, G C Debnath said.

However, because of a heavy incursion of moisture, rain or thundershowers may occur in isolated pockets of South Bengal, including Calcutta. The thundershowers may result from localised formation of rain clouds.

''We have noticed a cyclonic circulation (anti-clockwise movement of air) over North Andaman Sea, off Myanmar. If the circulation moves towards Bengal, the monsoon current could become active. But even if that happens, North Bengal will receive more rainfall than the south,'' he said.

''Despite the monsoon entering Bengal early, the current was not too active. Monsoon currents become active and weak in cycles. Now we are experiencing the weak phase,'' an official added.

Met officials said the monsoon current became weak shortly after it entered South Bengal on June 6, two days ahead of schedule. It entered North Bengal on May 28, eight days before schedule.

UNI BA SY ND1022