Heavy to very heavy rain is set to come down in Calcutta on Thursday under the impact of Cyclone Titli, which is likely to turn towards Gangetic Bengal after making landfall on the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast, the weather department said.

“Heavy to very heavy rain” means anything between 60mm and 200mm over 24 hours.

The intensity of the rain is likely to reduce from Friday and the sky will clear up by Sunday, Panchami. As for the Puja days, the weather department has not ruled out the possibility of brief spells of localised showers.

The prediction of “heavy to very heavy rain” has left puja organisers worried, as their pandals await finishing touches, and those planning to visit pandals ahead of the festivity disheartened.

Titli (named by Pakistan), which means butterfly, moved north-westwards at a slow pace of 8kmph over the past 24 hours and was 850km south of Calcutta, over the Bay of Bengal, on Tuesday. It is likely is pick up speed as it intensifies into a severe cyclone and approaches the Indian coastline.

According to the weather department’s calculations, the system is likely to make landfall between Gopalpur in south Odisha and Kalingapatnam in north Andhra Pradesh on Thursday morning. “We expect Titli to turn northeast and move towards Gangetic Bengal over coastal Odisha. Eventually, it is expected to move over Bengal and enter Bangladesh,” said Sanjib Bandyopadhyay, deputy director general, India Meteorological Department, Calcutta.

The storm will weaken gradually after landfall.

“Clouding started in Calcutta on Tuesday. The rain is likely to start on Wednesday and peak on Thursday. The intensity is likely to decrease on Friday. From Sunday, the skies will be clear. However, because of the residual moisture in the air, there could be localised showers on the Puja days,” Das said.

Cyclone Daye, which had formed over the Bay of Bengal in September-end and made landfall near Gopalpur, continued to move in the same direction thereafter, which is why the effect on Calcutta and its surroundings was not so severe.

Fishermen in Bengal and Odisha have been warned against venturing into the sea till October 12.

The maximum temperature had been above normal over the past few days and the conditions have been hot and sweaty. From Wednesday, however, the expected cloud cover is likely to keep the mercury in check.

“The maximum temperature had been varying between 35 and 36.5 degrees Celsius. Wednesday’s clouding brought it down to 34.1 degrees, still two notches above normal. Once the rain starts, it will fall by another two or three degrees,” a Met department official said.

The Telegraph