Thunderstorms, Hailstorm & Gusty Winds Expected in South Bengal (Feb 20-23, 2025)

Rainfall/thunderstorm activity over some districts of South Bengal during 20th to 23rd February 2025. The trough from Gangetic West Bengal to Telangana now runs from north Bangladesh to Telangana across Gangetic West Bengal, interior Odisha & south Chhattisgarh and extends up to 1.5 km above mean sea level. Under its influence and strong moisture incursion from Bay of Bengal at lower tropospheric levels Thunderstorm with light to moderate rainfall, Hailstorm and gusty wind activity very likely to occur in some districts of South Bengal during 20-23 Feb 2025.

Forecast and warnings:

South Bengal

Light to moderate rainfall very likely to occur at many places with thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with Hail and Gusty wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph very likely to occur at one or two places over East and West Bardhaman, West Midnapore, Bankura, Hooghly and Howrah districts on 20th February 2025 & thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with Gusty Wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph very likely to occur at one or two places over rest districts of South Bengal on 20th February 2025.

Light to moderate rainfall very likely to occur at one or two places with thunderstorm and lightning likely to occur at one or two places over East and West Midnapore, South 24 Parganas districts on 21th February 2025.

Light to moderate rainfall very likely to occur at many places with thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with Hail and Gusty wind (Speed reaching 40-50 kmph) likely to occur at one or two places over East Burdwan, West Burdwan, Bankura, Birbhum, West Midnapore, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly and Nadia districts on 22nd February 2025 & thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with Gusty Wind (Speed reaching 30-40 kmph) likely to occur at one or two places over rest districts of South Bengal on 22nd February 2025.

Light to moderate rainfall very likely to occur at many places with thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with Gusty Wind (Speed reaching 30-40 kmph) likely to occur at one or two places over East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Bankura, Hooghly, Howrah East Bardhaman, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts of South Bengal on 23rd February 2025; light to moderate rainfall likely to occur at a few places over rest districts of South Bengal on 23rd February 2025.

Possible Impact:

1. Some damages of matured Rabi crops and vegetables unsecured thatched houses.

2. Possibility of lightning strike especially in open field.

3. Possibility of temporarily traffic disruption in urban areas during thunderstorm with intense spell

    (2 – 3cm/hour) of rain.

Action suggested:

1. Farmers are advised to harvest the mature Rabi crops and vegetables and store at dry & safe place.

2. Take shelter in safe place during thunderstorm activity to protect from lightning.

3. Traffic may be regulated judiciously.

Warning maps are given at the end for graphical information.

N.B: Spatial rainfall distribution: Isolated: =< 25%, A few: 26-50%, Many: 51-75%, Most: 76-100%, Rainfall amount (mm): Heavy rain: 64.5 – 115.5, Very heavy rain: 115.6 – 204.4, extremely heavy rain: 204.5 or more. Probabilistic forecast: Unlikely =< 25%, likely 26-50%, Very likely 51-75%, Most likely > 75%

Colour code for Warning:

Next Update will be given on 21.02.2025.

Team Maverick