Tue May 20 02:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:
**West Bengal Braces for More Storms and Heavy Rainfall as Weather System Fuels Instability**
**Kolkata, West Bengal -** West Bengal is likely to experience several more days of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, according to the Alipore Meteorological Department. A potent east-west trough, combined with a surge of moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal, is creating unstable weather conditions across the state.
The weather office reports that the east-west trough extends from Punjab to northern Bangladesh, crossing through Haryana, southern Uttar Pradesh, southern Bihar, and the northern part of Gangetic West Bengal. The influx of moisture from the Bay of Bengal is interacting with this system, creating a favorable environment for widespread rainfall and thunderstorms.
**Alerts Issued for Several Districts**
A special weather bulletin issued on Monday afternoon warns of thunderstorms with wind speeds of 50-60 kmph in Purulia, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum, and Murshidabad districts. Other districts are also likely to experience gusty winds of 40-50 kmph. Kolkata and other districts in South Bengal are expected to see intermittent thunderstorms and rainfall until Thursday. A specific alert has been issued for Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, Murshidabad, Nadia, and Bardhaman for Tuesday.
**North Bengal on High Alert for Heavy Rainfall**
North Bengal is bracing for heavy to very heavy rainfall. On Monday, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, and Dakshin Dinajpur are expected to receive 7-11 cm of rainfall. An “Orange” alert for very heavy rainfall has been issued for Malda, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling. These areas are also likely to experience thunderstorms and heavy rain on Tuesday, with the unsettled weather persisting through Thursday.
**Kolkata Sees Drop in Temperature**
The recent weather changes have brought much-needed relief from the heat in Kolkata. The city’s maximum temperature has dropped from around 36 degrees Celsius to approximately 31 degrees Celsius in recent days. The minimum temperature on Monday was 26.4 degrees Celsius, offering further respite.
The Alipore Meteorological Department is closely monitoring the situation and advising residents to take necessary precautions during the thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.