Kolkata Weather Today: Rain Clouds Dominate City, Thunderstorms and Gusty Winds Keep Monsoon Uneasy

Kolkata is beginning the last day of August under a distinctly unsettled monsoon regime, with rain-bearing clouds continuing to dominate the city’s skyline and intermittent showers likely to punctuate the day. The India Meteorological Department’s latest Kolkata-Alipore forecast indicates a generally cloudy day with spells of rain or thundershowers, while thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of around 30–40 kmph remain a possibility. ⁠

The weather situation is being influenced by a low-pressure system over the northwest Bay of Bengal and an active monsoon pattern over the region. According to the latest reports, the system is expected to move west-northwestwards towards northern Odisha and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal, maintaining a spell of unsettled weather across southern Bengal. ⁠

For Kolkata, the immediate outlook remains more rain-oriented than scorching. The IMD’s Alipore observatory has forecast a minimum temperature of around 27°C and a maximum near 32°C for August 31. The combination of persistent cloud cover, moisture-laden winds and intermittent rainfall is likely to prevent temperatures from rising sharply, although the city may continue to feel muggy during rain-free intervals. ⁠

The preceding 24 hours have already demonstrated how volatile the weather pattern has become. The Alipore station recorded 13.2 mm of rain, while the maximum temperature touched 33.6°C and relative humidity remained high. Such moisture-rich conditions can quickly fuel convective clouds, making sudden showers and thunderstorms possible even after periods of relatively quiet weather. ⁠

For commuters, Monday could therefore bring the familiar monsoon combination of wet roads, reduced visibility during heavier showers and temporary traffic disruptions in vulnerable stretches. Low-lying areas may experience water accumulation if intense bursts of rain occur over a short period. The possibility of gusty winds accompanying thunderstorms also warrants caution for pedestrians, motorists and those travelling on two-wheelers.

The wider South Bengal picture is considerably more active. Several districts, including parts of East and West Midnapore, Jhargram, North and South 24 Parganas and Howrah, are facing warnings for heavy or very heavy rainfall during this spell, with some areas expected to receive significantly more rain than Kolkata. ⁠

The unsettled conditions are unlikely to disappear immediately with the turn of the calendar. IMD’s Kolkata forecast indicates another round of thunderstorm and rain activity on September 1, followed by cloudy conditions and lighter rainfall chances in the subsequent days. This suggests that the monsoon’s influence will remain firmly entrenched over the city as September begins. ⁠

The weather office has also advised caution during thunderstorms, particularly because lightning and sudden squalls can develop rapidly. Residents are better off avoiding exposed locations, open fields and standing beneath isolated trees when lightning activity intensifies. Coastal conditions are also expected to remain rough, prompting authorities to advise fishermen against venturing into the sea during the adverse weather spell. ⁠

For Kolkata, therefore, August is signing off not with a return to clear skies but with another distinctly monsoonal chapter. A grey, humid atmosphere, intermittent rain and the threat of thunderstorms are likely to define Monday, while the broader weather system over the Bay of Bengal keeps South Bengal on alert. With September beginning on a similarly wet note, Kolkata may have to wait a little longer before the clouds finally loosen their grip on the city.