Kolkata Weather Update: Kolkata woke up on Friday, August 29, 2025, to a classic monsoon morning — grey skies, a steady drizzle, and the unmistakable smell of wet earth that transforms the city every year around this time. For many residents, the weather was both a relief from weeks of sweltering humidity and a reminder of the disruptions that heavy rains can bring to one of India’s most densely populated metros.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Kolkata is expected to witness intermittent showers throughout the day, accompanied by moderate cloud cover and a dip in daytime temperatures. While the rainfall is not classified as extreme, it is significant enough to influence daily commuting patterns, traffic conditions, and even the festive mood as the city inches closer to the much-anticipated Durga Puja season.
➡️ For live IMD updates: India Meteorological Department
A Monsoon That Refuses to Let Go
The 2025 monsoon has already carved its own narrative in West Bengal. Unlike some previous years where rainfall was erratic, this season has been marked by consistent showers and sustained humidity across July and August. Meteorologists attribute this pattern to a strong low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, which has been fueling moisture-laden winds into the Gangetic plains.
Kolkata, being a riverine city surrounded by wetlands and crisscrossed with old drainage systems, is particularly sensitive to rainfall fluctuations. On days of heavy downpour, familiar images of waterlogged streets in areas like Ultadanga, Lake Town, and Tollygunge surface. However, the rainfall on August 29, though steady, has so far not triggered widespread flooding — a relief for civic authorities who are often stretched thin during peak monsoon.
Life in the City: Between Charm and Chaos
For the average Kolkatan, the rains evoke a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, monsoon showers are romanticized in literature, films, and music — think Rabindrasangeet sung softly on a rainy afternoon or steaming plates of khichuri with ilish maachh (hilsa fish) shared among families. On the other hand, the reality of navigating pothole-ridden, waterlogged streets, dealing with delayed public transport, and battling traffic snarls is far from poetic.
This morning, several commuters reported long queues for buses and taxis, as intermittent showers slowed traffic across EM Bypass and major city junctions. Metro services ran largely on time, though slightly more crowded than usual with many opting for the underground to escape the wet chaos above.
Local vendors, particularly those selling rain gear, did brisk business. At Esplanade and Gariahat, umbrellas and plastic sandals were in high demand. Street-side tea stalls were also thriving, as office-goers took shelter for a quick cup of steaming cha while waiting for the rain to ease.
Impact on Schools and Offices
With schools and colleges resuming regular schedules after the holiday season, attendance dipped slightly on Friday. Parents in flood-prone neighborhoods chose to keep children home, citing health concerns. Office-goers, too, reported delayed arrivals, particularly from suburban belts like Howrah and Barasat where connecting trains ran behind schedule due to water on the tracks.
The state education department has not issued any fresh advisories yet, but civic officials have urged institutions to remain cautious in areas where heavy waterlogging persists.
Health and Safety Concerns
The IMD has already issued advisories warning citizens about potential water-borne diseases, which often spike during prolonged monsoon spells. Hospitals across the city have recorded a rise in cases of dengue, viral fever, and stomach infections, all of which are associated with stagnant water and poor sanitation during rains.
Doctors at IPGMER and SSKM Hospital emphasized preventive care:
- Using mosquito nets and repellents.
- Drinking boiled or filtered water.
- Avoiding raw street food during the rainy season.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has also deployed additional staff to clear clogged drains and spray anti-mosquito chemicals in vulnerable neighborhoods.
➡️ More on dengue control efforts: National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control
Civic Preparedness and Challenges
Every monsoon tests the resilience of Kolkata’s civic infrastructure. Despite years of upgrades, the century-old drainage system still struggles to cope with sudden cloudbursts. While the city has seen fewer catastrophic waterlogging events this season compared to past years, the challenge remains significant.
Officials from the KMC Disaster Management Department have been on high alert since Thursday night, keeping pumps ready in low-lying areas like Behala, Dum Dum, and Khidirpur. The civic body is also coordinating with the Kolkata Police traffic wing to manage congestion hotspots that tend to worsen during rains.
Public Sentiment: Monsoon Mood Swings
Kolkata’s relationship with rain is not just practical but deeply emotional. Social media platforms were abuzz with photos of rain-soaked Maidan, raindrops clinging to the trams, and steaming cups of tea by foggy windows. Hashtags like #KolkataRains and #MonsoonMood trended on Twitter and Instagram through the morning.
For many, the rain brought nostalgia — reminders of childhood days splashing through puddles or lazy afternoons curled up with books. For others, it was a source of frustration, particularly those caught in traffic for over an hour on stretches like Rashbehari Avenue and Park Street.
Looking Ahead: What IMD Predicts
According to the IMD’s extended forecast, Kolkata can expect more scattered showers over the next three days, though not of extreme intensity. Temperatures are likely to hover between 26°C and 31°C, keeping humidity levels high. This pattern is expected to hold until early September, when the monsoon typically begins to retreat from the Gangetic plains.
The bigger concern, however, lies in the possibility of cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal, which remains active during the late monsoon period. Meteorologists have urged coastal districts of Bengal to stay vigilant.
➡️ Cyclone tracking updates: Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre, IMD
Kolkata Weather Update: The Larger Climate Context
Kolkata’s monsoon this year cannot be seen in isolation. Across India, 2025 has been marked by unusual rainfall distribution. While eastern states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar have seen above-average showers, parts of central and western India have struggled with below-normal rainfall. Climate scientists point to a combination of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effects and regional variations in sea surface temperatures.
A recent study by IIT Kharagpur suggested that urban heat islands, coupled with rapid concretization of Kolkata’s landscape, have been influencing localized rainfall patterns. Areas with fewer trees and green cover are experiencing higher temperatures and more intense rainfall bursts, contributing to urban flooding.
➡️ Related climate insights: IPCC Climate Reports
Monsoon and Culture: The Poetic Side of the Rain
Beyond its challenges, the monsoon has always held a special place in Kolkata’s cultural imagination. Writers from Rabindranath Tagore to Sunil Gangopadhyay have celebrated the rains in their poetry and prose. Filmmakers have used Kolkata’s wet streets as backdrops for poignant scenes, and painters often capture the city’s trams and hand-pulled rickshaws in the rain.
In everyday life, the rains transform simple rituals — a family gathering around plates of khichuri and begun bhaja (fried eggplant), lovers sharing an umbrella on College Street, or children making paper boats in puddles. It is these moments that balance the frustration of traffic snarls and waterlogging.
Conclusion: A City in Sync with Its Rains
As August draws to a close, Kolkata once again demonstrates its unique ability to embrace the rains with both resilience and romance. The showers on August 29 may slow down traffic, soak commuters, and test civic preparedness, but they also bring the city alive in ways that no other season does.
For Kolkatans, the monsoon is not just weather — it is a state of mind, a rhythm that seeps into daily life, literature, food, and festivity. And as long as the clouds linger over the Hooghly, the city will continue its delicate dance between chaos and charm.
✅ External References for Context:
- India Meteorological Department – Official weather updates
- Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (IMD Delhi) – Cyclone tracking and advisories
- National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control – Health and dengue prevention updates
- IPCC Reports – Global climate change insights
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