As West Bengal celebrates Durga Puja, the IMD reports that while scattered light rain and gusty winds may touch coastal areas through Saptami, a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal remains offshore, leaving festival organizers anticipating dry weather and clearer skies from Ashtami onward.
Preparations across the state are effectively complete, shifting focus entirely from open-air pandals to the shifting moods of the sky. While parts of Kolkata and surrounding districts experienced intermittent drizzling during Panchami, regional weather officials emphasize that no severe cyclonic disruptions or heavy downpours threaten the celebrations as announced by the Alipore Meteorological Department.
Bay of Bengal Low-Pressure Dynamics and Regional Impact
The persistent weather uncertainty stems from atmospheric activity centered over the southeast Bay of Bengal.
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Meteorologists noted that the system’s eventual trajectory toward the Andhra Pradesh or Odisha coast largely spares Bengal from direct landfall impacts. At the same time, southwest monsoon withdrawal lines continue to push across the region, aligning with the onset of northeast monsoon conditions further south as reported by regional weather tracking. This seasonal transition creates localized moisture channels, pulling humid air inland from a Comorin area trough extending to the northwest Bay of Bengal according to meteorological observations.
District-by-District Forecast from Sashti through Saptami
The opening days of the festival demand attention to local radar updates, particularly for evening outings. On Mahashashti, partial cloud cover settled over Kolkata and neighboring districts, with coastal zones facing the highest probability of precipitation as detailed in local news reports. Alipore Meteorological Department regional director Habibur Rahman Biswas noted that scattered light precipitation could affect various locations through the seventh day of the lunar fortnight. Meteorological data indicated that the city’s sky would remain partly cloudy, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 32 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively. Kolkata’s maximum temperature was recorded at 31.9 degrees Celsius, which sits 0.7 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature stood at 25.1 degrees Celsius, registering 0.2 degrees below normal.
| Festival Day | South Bengal Outlook | North Bengal Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Sashti | Light to moderate rain in South 24 Parganas and East Medinipur; brief showers in Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly. | Generally dry, with light rain possible in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Jalpaiguri. |
| Saptami | Scattered light showers across Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, and Jhargram noted by regional updates. | Dry conditions prevailing, with isolated damp patches in upper hill regions. |
Wind speeds during passing squalls may reach 30 to 40 kilometers per hour in isolated pockets, adding a brisk edge to evening pandal hopping. Residents in Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, and both Medinipur districts are advised to keep umbrellas accessible while navigating crowded avenues.
Clearing Skies and Dry Conditions from Ashtami Onward
For millions of festivalgoers planning late-night outings, the latter half of the calendar delivers considerable relief. Weather offices indicate that atmospheric conditions will stabilize markedly as high pressure builds.
Starting on Maha Ashtami and carrying through Mahanavami, Dashami, and Ekadashi, the threat of rain diminishes across nearly all districts. Temperatures in Kolkata are projected to range between 24 and 33 degrees Celsius with declining humidity, providing comfortable conditions for traditional pushpanjali ceremonies and final idol immersion viewings according to temperature projections.
Northern districts, including Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Alipurduar, will similarly transition back to crisp autumn air following minor weekend sprinkles, leaving the state well-positioned to conclude its annual festivities without major weather disruptions.