Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Depression near Calcutta moves northwest, moderate rain recorded
A big rainy weather system, called a depression, is near Calcutta in India.
It started as a low-pressure area over the sea near Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal.
On Thursday morning it got stronger and became a depression.
The storm is moving northwest, away from Calcutta.
That is why Calcutta received only about 15mm of rain.
But other places may get much more rain.
Jhargram could get very heavy rain on Friday.
Heavy rain is also expected in places like West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia and West Burdwan.
In north Bengal, heavy rain is likely in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar.
The rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue over the next few days.
A depression lay over coastal Bengal about 60km from Calcutta on Thursday evening, bringing only moderate rain to the city.
The system, which intensified from a well-marked low-pressure area, was moving west-northwestwards at 12kmph.
The Met office recorded around 15mm of rain at Alipore until 8.30pm on Thursday, with an overcast sky and rain continuing late into the night.
A Met official said south Jharkhand and the western districts of Bengal were likely to bear the maximum brunt of the system.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7-20cm) is expected in Jhargram on Friday, with heavy rain likely in West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia and West Burdwan.
- Who
- The India Meteorological Department (referred to as the Met office), which is tracking the depression and issuing forecasts for Calcutta and surrounding regions.
- What
- A depression over coastal Bengal moved northwest, bringing moderate rain to Calcutta and forecasts of heavy rain for parts of Bengal and Jharkhand.
- When
- Thursday evening and night, with rain forecast to continue on Friday and on August 15.
- Where
- Coastal Bengal near Calcutta, moving toward south Jharkhand and the western districts of Bengal, with rain also expected across north Bengal.
- Why
- The system intensified from a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal and is moving northwest along the monsoon trough; cloud convergence was greater ahead of the system, limiting rain over Calcutta.
- Weather system
- Depression, intensified from a well-marked low-pressure area
- Distance from Calcutta
- Barely 60km on Thursday evening
- Rain recorded at Alipore
- Around 15mm until 8.30pm on Thursday
- Movement
- West-northwestwards at 12kmph
- Position at 5.30pm Thursday
- About 50km east-northeast of Midnapore, 60km west of Calcutta
- Friday forecast
- Heavy to very heavy rain (7-20cm) in Jhargram; heavy rain in West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia and West Burdwan
- August 15 forecast
- Heavy rain likely in East Midnapore and South 24-Parganas; light to moderate rain across south Bengal
- North Bengal forecast
- Heavy rain likely in Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Darjeeling