The usually rainy month for Kolkata, October, this year remained literally dry as there was hardly any rain during the first two weeks and no rain in last 10 days.
Even though withdrawal of Southwest Monsoon delays from its normal withdrawal date of 10th October, it mostly gives light to moderate rain showers to the ‘City of Joy’. However, this year even as Southwest Monsoon withdrew on the 17th October, it failed to shower Kolkata.
Only first week of October witnessed some rain of 33 mm on the 1st and 32 mm on the 4th leaving rest of the month waiting for more good showers. Thereafter, there was barely any good rain and last ten days were completely dry.
Cyclones affect Kolkata Rain
Cyclones forming and developing in October usually affects Odisha and parts of West Bengal. Unfortunately, cyclone Hudhud that hit the coastal Andhra Pradesh on 12th October affected parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, missing the Gangetic Bengal.
Moreover, the recent cyclone Nilofar that is expected to approach western India in next 24 hours is going to miss eastern India, giving rain mostly to South India and parts of western India.
Rainfall below monthly normal
Due to a delayed withdrawal of Southwest Monsoon coupled with cyclones having no proximity to West Bengal, Kolkata remained devoid of rain during October. As a result, the rainfall for the month falls short by 50% of its monthly normal i.e. 158 mm.
According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the situation is likely to continue with partial cloudy sky on few occasions.
