Kolkata: Two more days are still left of June but the monsoon rainfall count in Kolkata has already exceeded the figure logged in last year's June. A wet beginning to the monsoon led to 187.8 mm rainfall in the city between June 1 and 27 this year, while the figure was 143.2 mm in the entire June last year.With a cyclonic circulation and a low-pressure area set to form on June 29, the count, which remained below normal in Kolkata, could exceed the normal mark, said the Met office. Consistent overnight rain and a grey sky greeted Kolkatans on Friday morning, and as the day proceeded, a cloud cover persisted with occasional spells of drizzle in most areas. The city received 42.7 mm of rain on Friday, as a result of which the maximum temperature dropped two degrees to 29.3°C.

Heavy to very heavy rain has been predicted for Monday, as a cyclonic circulation is forecast to form over the north Bay of Bengal on June 29 that may develop into a low-pressure area by June 30 (Monday). "We expect spells of heavy rain in Kolkata and south Bengal that could take the rain count higher and closer to the normal mark. The city has a 24% deficit for June till now," said Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) weather scientist Sourish Bandopadhyay.

But south Bengal has already received more than its normal share of June rain. It received 243.9 mm of rain between June 1 and 27, 13% more than the normal count. "There have been successive cyclonic circulations that caused intermittent but consistent rain ever since monsoon arrived in south Bengal and Kolkata on June 17. While the rain has been heavier around Kolkata, the city has received drizzles and moderate showers.

But Kolkata's deficit is not much, a deficit of up to 19% being taken as normal. The impending low-pressure may wipe out the month's deficit," said Bandopadhyay.Heavy rainfall (7 cm -11 cm) has been predicted on June 30 in Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Purulia, East and West Burdwan. In 2024, the monsoon arrived even later in Kolkata and started on a dry note. It had led to a deficit of 49% in Kolkata in June and 67% in south Bengal. Between 2014 and 2020, Kolkata received more than its normal rain count in June just once, in 2018.