As expected, the Bay of Bengal has thrown up a fresh storm, with yesterday’s low-pressure area rapidly intensifying into a depression.
It is the second storm to form in the Bay after a much stronger cyclone Mahasen churned up the waters to precipitate monsoon onset over Andaman and Nicobar (Bay arm of monsoon).
The prevailing depression, which is weaker by two degrees to be classified a cyclone, is expected to do the same with the Arabian Sea arm of the monsoon.
It will help the monsoon flows across Sri Lanka and South India gather strength, setting the stage for monsoon onset over Kerala coast over the next couple of days.
The depression lay 200 km Southeast of Kolkata this morning, and is forecast to cross Bangladesh coast, yet again, in the evening.
Kolkata and neighbourhood, as also East India and Northeast India, are expected to witness moderate to heavy rain and high winds during the rest of the day today.