If Thursday morning in Kolkata felt like wading rather than walking, the numbers back it up. Alipore recorded roughly 80 mm of rain in the 24 hours up to 8:30 am on September 24, placing the city among the wettest spots in South Bengal as the Bay of Bengal system we flagged earlier this week finally came ashore. The good news for anyone planning a Puja shopping weekend: the India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the rain to lose steam from Friday.
This is a follow-up to our earlier report, Kolkata Weather This Week: Bay of Bengal Low Pressure Set to Become a Deep Depression.
What Happened to the System
The deep depression crossed the north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast near Kalingapatnam in the early hours of September 24. It never strengthened into a cyclone, so the name “Arnab” that had been circulating on social media and in some reports was not used. By Thursday morning, IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre in Kolkata placed it about 70 km west-northwest of Kalingapatnam, moving north-northwest and expected to weaken into a depression by Thursday evening, then weaken further over the next day.
Kolkata was never in the direct path. What the city felt was the system’s moisture feeding an already vigorous monsoon over South Bengal.
How Much Rain Fell
IMD’s special bulletin of September 24 listed the heaviest 24-hour totals in South Bengal:
- Kansabati Dam (Bankura): about 100 mm, the highest in the state
- Midnapore, Tusuma (Purulia), Mohanpur and Panagarh: about 90 mm each
- Durgapur and Mangalkote: about 80 mm
- Alipore (Kolkata): about 80 mm
- Diamond Harbour (South 24 Parganas): about 70 mm
In North Bengal, Darjeeling and parts of Kalimpong received around 40 to 50 mm, with Leesh River Tea Garden in Jalpaiguri at about 70 mm.
The Forecast for Kolkata, Day by Day
- Thursday to Friday morning (till 8:30 am, September 25): Heavy rain (70 to 110 mm) possible at one or two places in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly and both 24 Parganas, with thunderstorms and gusts of 30 to 40 kmph.
- Friday, September 25 to Saturday morning: Light to moderate rain across South Bengal. Kolkata is no longer on the heavy-rain list; the heavy spells shift west to Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia, West Burdwan and Birbhum. Thunderstorms with 30 to 40 kmph winds are still possible.
- Saturday, September 26 to Sunday morning: Light to moderate showers at many places.
- September 27 to October 1: Only scattered light to moderate showers at a few places.
Fishermen have been told not to go to sea off the West Bengal coast until September 25, and Local Cautionary Signal-3 was hoisted at Kolkata and Haldia ports.
What It Means for Puja Prep
With pandal construction in full swing and hoardings allowed only from October 3, a drier stretch from the weekend is welcome news for organisers and artisans in Kumartuli alike. Shoppers eyeing Gariahat, Hatibagan or New Market this weekend should still carry an umbrella, but the risk of a day-long washout drops sharply after Friday. Districts to the west, especially Jhargram and the Midnapores, remain the ones to watch for local flooding.
Practical Tips for the Next 48 Hours
- Avoid underpasses and known low spots during a heavy spell. IMD specifically flags temporary waterlogging in low-lying areas and underpass roads.
- Stay indoors during lightning. Do not shelter under trees or near electric poles, and keep away from open water.
- Watch for exposed wires and loose hoardings, especially on streets where Puja structures are going up.
- Plan extra travel time on Friday morning; traffic slows quickly on roads that hold water.
- Heading west or to the hills? Check conditions before travelling to Jhargram, the Midnapores, Darjeeling or Kalimpong, where heavy rain and landslide risk continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Cyclone Arnab hit Kolkata?
No. The Bay of Bengal system stayed a deep depression and made landfall near Kalingapatnam on the Andhra-Odisha coast. It did not become a named cyclone.
When will the rain stop in Kolkata?
IMD expects heavy spells to end by Friday morning, lighter showers through the weekend, and only scattered rain from September 27 to October 1.
Is there a waterlogging risk this weekend?
Lower than earlier in the week. Short, intense showers can still cause temporary waterlogging in low-lying pockets, but prolonged heavy rain is not forecast for the city.
The Bottom Line
Kolkata took about 80 mm of rain as the deep depression came ashore to the south, but the worst is behind the city. Expect lighter showers from Friday and a mostly manageable weekend, while the western districts and the North Bengal hills stay on alert for a little longer.
Sources: India Meteorological Department, Regional Meteorological Centre Kolkata, Special Bulletin No. 10 dated September 24, 2026; PTI report of September 24, 2026 via ThePrint.
Featured image: Raindrops on a window during a monsoon shower, photo by Abhijit Das on Unsplash.
