North Bengal to receive rainfall in next 24 hours

SNS, Kolkata, 24 March 2014: North Bengal is expected to receive heavy rainfall along with hailstorm and thunder in the next 24 hours, said the Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore.

Rains accompanied with hailstorm lashed many parts of Gangetic Bengal on 23 March. The Meteorological department (MeT) has issued an avalanche warning.

The MeT department has issued area-wise warning to the districts Murshidabad, Nadia, Bankura, Birbhum and Burdwan, that they might receive heavy rainfall by tonight.

Warning has also been issued to the fishermen. The speed of the Nor'wester is expected to vary between 50 to 60 km.

"Moderate to rather heavy rains will occur at most places in the next 24 hours, while heavy rains would occur at South Bengal tonight," said Mr G C Debnath, director, Regional Meteorological Centre, Alipore.

Mr Debnath also said that the rains might continue for the next few days. The Meteorological department said that heavy rainfall is part of the pre-monsoon season that is usual this time of the year. But a hailstorm is not. This weather is expected to continue till May.

The Met department said a Nor'wester coupled with moisture caused Sunday's hailstorm. The department has also directed the Disaster Management department to remain alert.

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore organised an educational tour for students to know how the MeT office works on 'World Meteorological Day', that is today.

Recognising the strong stake that the youth ha in the future, the World Meteorological Organisation, an agency of the United Nations has chosen " Weather and climate: engaging youth" as the theme of this year's World Meteorological Day.