Kolkata finally got its Puja sky back this Monday. After several days of grey, waterlogged mornings brought on by last week’s deep depression, the city woke up on September 28 to bright sunshine and patchy white clouds, the kind of weather that pandal builders and shoppers have been waiting for. There is one thing to keep an eye on, though. The Met office has confirmed that a fresh low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal, and it is likely to strengthen over the next few days.
The short version: the new system is far to the east, near the Myanmar coast, and forecasters do not expect it to hit West Bengal directly. But its path is not locked in yet, so the next few days of bulletins matter.
This follows our earlier report, Kolkata Weather Update: Alipore Logs 80 mm as the Deep Depression Weakens.
Where the New System Is Right Now
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata, the low-pressure area first took shape over southern coastal Myanmar and nearby waters. It drifted into the Andaman Sea and turned into a well-marked low on Sunday afternoon. Forecasters expect it to move northwest, intensify into a depression, and then turn north towards the sea off the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast within roughly two days.
That northward track is the key detail for Kolkata. A system heading towards the Myanmar-Bangladesh coastline keeps the heaviest weather well to the east of the city. The Met office has said the depression is unlikely to affect Bengal directly, although a partial influence on the state cannot be ruled out depending on how it moves.
What Kolkata Can Expect This Week
- Monday, September 28: Mostly clear to partly cloudy skies, with the day’s high around 31 to 32 degrees Celsius. The heavy-rain warning for Kolkata and South Bengal has been withdrawn.
- Temperatures: Monday’s minimum was 26.5 degrees Celsius, about half a degree above normal. Sunday’s maximum of 32.4 degrees Celsius was almost exactly normal for late September.
- Rain outlook: No widespread thunderstorm activity is currently indicated over West Bengal. Humid afternoons can still produce a brief local shower, as is usual at the tail end of the monsoon.
- At sea: Gusty winds of 45 to 55 kmph, occasionally touching 65 kmph, are likely over the east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal. Fishermen have been told not to venture into those waters near the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast from Monday to Wednesday. No warning has been issued for the West Bengal coast so far.
Why This Matters for Puja Preparations
Late September and early October are the busiest weeks in Kolkata’s calendar. Pandal frames are going up across the city, idols are being finished in Kumartuli, and markets like Gariahat, Hatibagan and New Market are at their most crowded on weekends. A dry spell now gives organisers room to complete bamboo and cloth work that rain had held up last week.
Bengal has learned to watch the Bay of Bengal closely at this time of year. Many Kolkatans still remember how a sudden cloudburst flooded large parts of the city just before Puja in September 2025. That is why even a system forecast to stay away is worth tracking until it has clearly moved past.
Practical Tips for the Coming Days
- Make the most of the dry weather for Puja shopping and errands, but keep a small umbrella in your bag for a stray afternoon shower.
- Stay hydrated. Clear skies with high humidity can make afternoons in crowded markets feel much hotter than the thermometer suggests.
- Check the forecast midweek. If the depression changes course, the Met office will update its outlook for South Bengal, and we will too.
- Planning a coastal trip? Keep an eye on sea advisories before heading to Digha, Mandarmani or the Sundarbans, even though no warning is in place for the Bengal coast right now.
- Be careful around half-built pandals and loose hoardings if winds pick up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the new low-pressure area bring heavy rain to Kolkata?
Not according to the current forecast. The Met office expects the system to move towards the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast and says a direct impact on West Bengal is unlikely, though its movement could have some partial effect.
Has the heavy-rain warning for Kolkata been lifted?
Yes. The heavy-rain warning for Kolkata and South Bengal has been removed, and no widespread thunderstorm activity is currently indicated.
Is it safe to go fishing or travel by sea this week?
Fishermen have been advised to stay out of the east-central and northeast Bay of Bengal near the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast until Wednesday. There is no warning for the West Bengal coast at the moment.
Will it rain during Durga Puja?
It is too early to say. Forecasts beyond a few days are not reliable. The good news is that the current outlook for the run-up to Puja is largely dry for Kolkata.
If you are already planning your route, our Durga Puja pandal-hopping guide has tips on timing and transport.
The Bottom Line
Kolkata has swapped rain for sunshine just as Puja preparations peak. A new low-pressure system is building near Myanmar and could become a depression, but it is expected to head north towards the Myanmar-Bangladesh coast rather than towards Bengal. Enjoy the clear skies, keep an umbrella handy, and check back midweek for the latest update.
Sources: Regional Meteorological Centre Kolkata (India Meteorological Department) statements of September 28, 2026, as reported by IANS; Asianet Newsable weather update of September 28, 2026.
Featured image: Aerial panorama of south Kolkata, photo by Debashis RC Biswas on Unsplash.
