§  Has Cyclone Montha ended.?

§  Will it rain in Kolkata today.?

§  Are fishermen allowed in the sea.?

§  When will the rain stop in Bengal.?

§  Should I cancel my Darjeeling trip.?

§  Is there landslide risk in Darjeeling.?

§  Will there be waterlogging in Kolkata.?

§  How much rain is expected in North Bengal.?

§  Is there an orange alert in West Bengal today.?

§  What is the difference between yellow and orange alert.?

Kolkata: The fleeting glimpse of sunshine that greeted residents across South Bengal this morning proved deceptive, as Cyclone Montha—now weakened into a deep depression—continues to drive widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across West Bengal through the end of October. Though the cyclonic system has lost its peak intensity after making landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on October 28 evening, its remnant circulation is marching northward through Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar positioning itself to unleash heavy to very heavy downpours across North Bengal by October 31.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Kolkata has issued yellow and orange weather alerts across multiple districts, warning residents of thunderstorms with lightning, squally winds reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 55 kmph along coastal areas, waterlogging in low-lying zones, potential landslides in hilly regions and damage to standing crops. Fishermen have been strictly prohibited from venturing into deep sea areas until this evening with rough to very rough sea conditions persisting along the Bengal coast.

“Although morning brought some sunlight, Montha’s influence has not subsided,” confirmed meteorologists at IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata. “Within 2-3 hours, thunderstorms accompanied by rain are approaching East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Howrah districts, along with gusty winds at speeds of 30-40 kmph”.

From Cyclone to Deep Depression: Montha’s Northward March

Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha, which intensified faster than initially predicted and reached its peak intensity by the evening of October 26, has now lost considerable strength after crossing the Andhra Pradesh coastline between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada. The storm brought maximum sustained wind speeds of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph during landfall, triggering widespread power outages, uprooting trees and claiming at least one life in Mamidikuduru mandal when a tree collapsed on a house.

Following the landfall process that took approximately four hours on the night of October 28, Montha rapidly weakened into a deep depression as it moved over land, tracking north-northwestward from Telangana toward Chhattisgarh. As of October 29 evening, the deep depression was positioned over northern Telangana adjacent to Chhattisgarh, continuing its journey toward Jharkhand, Bihar and eventually the North Bengal threshold.

“The system has lost its cyclonic characteristics but retains sufficient moisture and energy to produce heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, especially when it interacts with the Himalayan foothills,” explained independent meteorologist Ashwary Tiwari, who runs the @IndiaMetSky Weather profile. The deep depression is expected to reach North Bengal districts within the next several hours, setting the stage for potentially dangerous rainfall accumulations of up to 200mm (20cm) in isolated pockets.

South Bengal: Coastal Districts Bear the Brunt

South Bengal districts, particularly those along the coast and in western regions are experiencing the most immediate impacts from Montha’s circulation. The IMD has issued yellow alerts (warning of heavy rain ranging from 7-11 cm in 24 hours) for multiple districts through October 31.

·       October 29-30 Forecast for South Bengal

o   Coastal districts including South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and West Midnapore are witnessing light to moderate rain at many places with heavy downpours (7-11 cm) expected at isolated locations. Jhargram district in western Bengal is also under heavy rainfall watch.

o   Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly and surrounding metropolitan areas face partly to completely cloudy skies with scattered light to moderate rain and occasional thunderstorms with lightning throughout the day. Gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are sweeping through these districts with coastal areas experiencing squalls reaching 35-45 kmph and gusting up to 55 kmph.

·       October 30-31 Forecast

o   The heavy rain zone is shifting westward and northward with Purulia, Birbhum, Murshidabad and West Bardhaman districts expected to receive significant rainfall (7-11 cm at isolated places). All remaining districts of South Bengal will continue experiencing light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds.

o   Maximum temperatures are forecast to remain below normal for the next 48 hours before gradually rising, while minimum temperatures are expected to see slight increases. In Kolkata specifically, daytime highs are hovering around 31°C with overnight lows near 25°C—cooler than typical late October conditions.

North Bengal on High Alert: Orange Warning for Extremely Heavy Rain

The most critical period for North Bengal approaches on Friday, October 31, when the deep depression’s moisture-laden circulation collides with the Himalayan terrain, potentially triggering orographic enhancement of rainfall. The IMD has issued an orange alert (warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rain ranging from 7-20 cm) for five districts in the sub-Himalayan region.

·       October 31 Forecast for North Bengal

o   Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts face the highest risk with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 200mm (20cm) of rainfall in a 24-hour period—classified as “very heavy” to “extremely heavy” precipitation. Such rainfall rates can overwhelm drainage systems, trigger flash floods in low-lying areas and cause devastating landslides in the fragile hill slopes of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

o   Malda, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur districts are under yellow alert for heavy rain (7-11 cm) on October 31. All North Bengal districts will experience thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph throughout October 29-31.

·       October 30 Forecast

o   Heavy rain is likely in Malda, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Jalpaiguri districts, setting the stage for the more intense rainfall expected on October 31.

IMD Advisory: Multiple Threats Across the State

·       The India Meteorological Department has issued comprehensive advisories addressing various risks posed by the prolonged rainfall event

o   Marine Warning

-        Fishermen are strictly prohibited from venturing into deep sea areas until this evening (October 30) due to rough to very rough sea conditions with squally winds reaching 35-45 kmph and gusting to 55 kmph along and off the West Bengal coast. Sea conditions will gradually improve after Thursday but caution is advised through the weekend.

o   Landslide Risk in Hilly Areas

-        The mountainous regions of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts face significant landslide danger, particularly on October 31 when extremely heavy rainfall is forecast. Visibility in hilly areas may deteriorate sharply due to heavy rain and low-lying clouds, making road travel hazardous. Residents in vulnerable hill slopes and tourists in the region are advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid unnecessary travel.

o   Agricultural Impact

-        Standing crops across Bengal, particularly paddy fields ready for harvest, face potential damage from heavy rain, strong winds and waterlogging. Farmers in South Bengal districts are specifically advised to harvest ripened crops immediately and store produce in safe locations before the next wave of intense rainfall arrives. In North Bengal, where the main threat comes on October 31, agricultural authorities have urged farmers to secure livestock and protect stored grain from moisture damage.

o   Waterlogging and Urban Flooding

-        Low-lying areas across both North and South Bengal are susceptible to waterlogging with particular concern for underpasses, poor drainage zones in urban centers and riverside settlements. Cities like Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, Malda and parts of Kolkata metropolitan area that have historically struggled with drainage during heavy rainfall events should prepare for traffic disruptions and localized flooding.

o   Lightning Strike Hazard

-        Thunderstorm activity with frequent lightning is forecast across all districts through October 31. People working in open fields, construction sites or agricultural lands are at highest risk. The IMD advises staying indoors during intense thunderstorm periods, avoiding shelter under isolated trees or near electrical poles and unplugging sensitive electronic devices.

Seven-Day Outlook: Gradual Improvement After Halloween

·       According to the latest IMD extended forecast, rainfall activity will follow a phased reduction pattern across West Bengal

o   November 1-2: Rainfall intensity decreases significantly across South Bengal with only light to moderate showers at scattered locations. North Bengal continues to see moderate rain at many places with heavy rain (7-11 cm) possible in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts.

o   November 3-4: Light rain or thundershowers expected at isolated locations across both North and South Bengal. Weather conditions stabilize considerably with temperatures beginning to rise toward seasonal normals.

o   November 4 onwards: Dry weather is most likely to prevail across all districts of West Bengal, marking the complete cessation of Montha’s influence. Normal late autumn weather patterns resume with pleasant daytime conditions and cooler nights.

Kolkata Specific Forecast: Intermittent Rain Through Weekend

The state capital experienced brief morning sunshine on October 30, raising hopes for clearing skies but meteorologists caution that partly to fully overcast conditions will dominate through November 2.

·       October 30: Partly cloudy sky becoming cloudy by afternoon with scattered light to moderate rain and occasional thundershowers. One or two spells of heavier rain possible with lightning. Gusty winds 30-40 kmph. Maximum temperature around 31°C, minimum near 25°C.

·       October 31-November 1: Similar conditions with intermittent light to moderate rain, thunderstorms and gusty conditions. Temperatures remain below normal for this time of year.

·       November 2-3: Rain frequency decreases significantly with only isolated light showers possible. Temperatures begin gradual recovery toward seasonal averages.

Residents are advised to carry rain gear, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy downpour periods and stay updated on rapidly changing weather conditions through official IMD bulletins.

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Regional Impact: Eastern India Under Montha’s Extended Reach

While West Bengal bears significant impact from the weakened system, Montha’s remnant circulation is affecting vast swathes of eastern and central India. Moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast across Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, eastern Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim through October 31.

·       Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Manjhi reviewed the situation from the state control room, stating: “We reviewed the graphical images of IMD... Odisha is not at much risk... All our teams are prepared for any situation... People have been shifted to safe places”. Despite initial concerns, Odisha experienced less severe impacts than initially feared as Montha’s track shifted slightly southward before landfall.

·       Bihar and Jharkhand are experiencing scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm activity as the deep depression tracks through their territories en route to North Bengal. Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim together form the final corridor for Montha’s moisture-laden remnants before the system dissipates against the Himalayan barrier.

Climate Context: October Cyclones and Bay of Bengal Activity

Cyclone Montha represents yet another demonstration of the Bay of Bengal’s remarkable propensity for generating tropical cyclones, particularly during the pre-monsoon (April-May) and post-monsoon (October-November) transition periods. The Bay of Bengal accounts for approximately 7% of global tropical cyclones but produces some of the deadliest storms in recorded history due to the densely populated and low-lying coastal regions surrounding it.

“The Bay of Bengal is a cyclone hotspot due to warm sea surface temperatures, low vertical wind shear during transition seasons and the influence of monsoon circulation patterns,” explained meteorological sources. The name “Montha” (pronounced Mon-Tha) was contributed by Oman as part of the rotating list maintained by the World Meteorological Organization’s Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean.

October 2025 has witnessed unusual North Indian Ocean activity with not just Montha in the Bay of Bengal but also a lingering depression in the Arabian Sea that has made erratic turns over the past week. While the Arabian Sea system has not yet posed significant threats to India’s western coast, its unusual persistence highlights the active meteorological conditions characterizing this particular October.

Community Preparedness: Lessons from Recent Cyclones

West Bengal’s disaster management infrastructure has improved considerably following devastating cyclones like Amphan (2020), Yaas (2021) and recent storms. However, Montha’s widespread rainfall distribution and extended duration present different challenges compared to intense but geographically concentrated cyclonic impacts.

Local administrations across vulnerable districts have activated flood control rooms, positioned rescue teams with boats and equipment in strategic locations and coordinated with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). In North Bengal, particular attention focuses on hill station roads prone to landslides and low-lying areas of Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar cities that flood during prolonged heavy rainfall.

Agricultural extension officers have been working to alert farmers about the approaching heavy rain phase with particular emphasis on harvesting mature paddy crops before October 31 when the most intense rainfall hits North Bengal. The autumn rice harvest season coinciding with Montha’s impact raises concerns about potential agricultural losses if mature crops remain in waterlogged fields.

As Bengal navigates through this multi-day weather event, the key message from meteorological and disaster management authorities remains consistent: stay informed through official channels, avoid unnecessary risks and recognize that while Montha has weakened from cyclonic intensity, its rainfall potential remains formidable and demands serious precautionary measures through the end of October.

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