Low pressure to trigger early monsoon

Kolkata: A low pressure, being formed in the Bay of Bengal, will trigger the advance of southwest monsoon in West Bengal and Odisha from June 9, the meteorological department said here on Friday.

The low pressure is likely to intensify into a depression by Saturday and move north-northwestwards across West Bengal and Bangladesh coasts, the MeT department said and forecast isolated heavy rains in West Bengal and parts of Odisha from June 9.

It has forecast normal monsoon this year. Its scheduled date of arrival in the Gangetic West Bengal is June 9 and the formation of the low pressure has made conditions favourable for it to keep the date.

Under the influence of the weather system, the southwest monsoon is likely to advance into some parts of Odisha, West Bengal and Sikkim and most parts of Bay of Bengal from June 9 to June 11, it said.

The weatherman said that rainfall activity will increase over West Bengal from June 8 and isolated heavy to very heavy rain will occur from June 9 in the coastal districts of Gangetic West Bengal and isolated heavy rain in the other districts of West Bengal.

Squally wind with speed reaching 40 to 50 km per hour, gusting to 60 kmph is very likely over north Bay of Bengal along and off West Bengal, Odisha and Bangladesh coasts.

The Met department has warned fishermen not to venture into the sea along these areas from June 8 afternoon till further notification.

It also asked fishermen, who are at deep sea, to return by June 8 afternoon as sea condition will be rough to very rough in north Bay of Bengal.