Calcutta Might Experience Rains This Weekend
Calcutta waits with bated breath (and sweaty brows) as the squall season prances past to North Bengal. A witty take on the city’s meteorological melodrama, complete with cloudless skies, dramatic forecasts, and very Bengali patience.
By all appearances, squall season has well and truly sent out its RSVP — but appears to have taken a scenic detour en route to Calcutta. While north Bengal is being treated to the full theatrical performance of thunder, lightning and dramatic skies, south Bengal — and our dear, ever-patient Calcutta — is still waiting in the wings with not so much as a curtain-raiser.
According to the weather boffins at the Alipore Met office, there’s a well-marked low-pressure area throwing its weight around the Bay of Bengal, soaking up all the moisture like a thirsty sponge at a summer fete. Problem is, the majority of it seems to be heading straight towards the hills — giving Darjeeling and Kalimpong a bit of a show, while Calcutta gets left holding the umbrella… under a cloudless sky.
“The convergence,” as one senior Met official said, sounding rather like a character out of a Victorian novel, “is happening up north.” Translation: all the exciting meteorological stuff is skipping past Calcutta like it’s yesterday’s jhalmuri.
Still, there’s a faint glimmer of hope on the horizon — quite literally. The Met office is murmuring about “scattered thunderstorm activity” in the days to come. “Scattered,” of course, is a lovely English word which usually means you’ll either be soaked to your socks on your way to the chemist or spend the entire day lugging around a brolly for no reason at all.
The forecast for Calcutta? “Partly cloudy,” say the experts, which in local parlance could mean anything from a poetic overcast evening to the sun poking through like it’s just had a power nap.
As per the latest missive — sounding oddly like the opening scene of a Bollywood thriller — “Yesterday’s low-pressure area over the southwest Bay has moved north-northwest and is now contemplating a sharp turn before losing interest altogether.” (One imagines it may also stop for a cup of tea and a biscuit.)
Dr H. R. Biswas, weather sage-in-chief at Alipore, confirmed that “moisture incursion” from the Bay is very much underway. However, the winds are still rather sheepish, flitting about in the lower levels and not quite mustering up the courage for a proper downpour.
“The winds will get stronger,” he assures us. Hopefully, before we all melt into the footpaths like forgotten kulfi.
Until then, Calcutta’s citizens are advised to stay cool — easier said than done when the mercury’s having a go at breaking records, sitting between a toasty 34 and 36 degrees Celsius. Evenings may bring a welcome breeze, but let’s not get carried away — we’re still firmly in the category of “might rain, might not, probably won’t”.
So, dear Calcuttans, keep your washing indoors, your fans on high, and your sense of humour intact. With a bit of luck (and a nudge from the Bay), we might just get our first squall of the season this weekend. Or, as is often the case in these parts — we might just have to wait a tad longer while the clouds sort out their travel plans.
Tea, anyone?
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