NEW DELHI, July 11 — The India Meteorological Department, the government agency that has tracked the subcontinent’s weather since 1875, issued its forecast for Kolkata on Saturday, projecting overcast skies, high humidity, and a temperature range that officials said remains typical for the monsoon season. The July 12 forecast for the eastern city calls for a high of 33 degrees Celsius and a low of 27 degrees Celsius, with humidity at 95 percent.
The agency’s regional office in Kolkata, part of a nationwide network of weather stations, also indicated a 53 percent chance of rain around 2 PM local time, according to the forecast. Officials said the prediction is consistent with the IMD’s standard forecast parameters, which rely on Doppler weather radar, satellite data, and numerical weather prediction models.
The agency, headquartered in New Delhi, is the principal government body responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology across India.
Regional forecasting and monsoon patterns
The Kolkata regional office provides localized forecasts for the city and its surrounding areas. The IMD’s network of weather stations across the country feeds data into its forecasting systems, which officials said are designed to produce daily weather updates, warnings, and climate data for cities including Kolkata. The agency’s history dates to 1875, when British colonial authorities established it.
That legacy continues today, with the IMD issuing daily forecasts and warnings. For Kolkata, the forecast of overcast skies and high humidity carries particular significance.
The 95 percent humidity reading, officials said, reflects the moisture-laden air typical of the region during July.
Forecast methodology and limitations
The IMD’s forecast for Kolkata on July 12 includes a specific probability of rain — 53 percent around 2 PM — a level of precision that the agency’s numerical weather prediction models allow. These models, which process satellite and radar data alongside ground observations, generate probability-based forecasts rather than definitive predictions, according to officials. Doppler weather radar stations, including those in the Kolkata region, track precipitation and wind patterns in real time.
Satellite imagery provides broader coverage of cloud systems moving across the Bay of Bengal, a source of much of the moisture that drives monsoon rainfall in eastern India. The account indicates that the IMD’s forecasting process combines these data streams to produce the kind of detailed forecast issued for Kolkata: overcast skies, a temperature range of 27 to 33 degrees Celsius, and a specific rain probability window.
Officials said such forecasts are updated regularly as new data becomes available.
What to watch next
The monsoon season in eastern India typically continues through September, and the IMD’s regional office in Kolkata will continue issuing daily forecasts and warnings as the weather pattern evolves. For residents of Kolkata, the July 12 forecast of overcast skies and a 53 percent chance of afternoon rain represents a familiar pattern during the monsoon months. The IMD’s data, officials said, will continue to inform both daily planning and longer-term climate monitoring across the region.
