Heavy rainfall breaks a ten year old record in Kolkata, India

The cyclonic system over the Gangetic West Bengal brought intense thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall to Kolkata, the capital of India's state of West Bengal on May 23, 2016. Abundant amounts of precipitation have set a new 24-hour rainfall record in the last decade.

According to Skymet Weather, 56 mm (2.2 inches) of rainfall was recorded in 24 hours, starting on May 23. In total, Kolkata reported 135.7 mm (5.3 inches) of precipitation by May 24, and it looks like it's about to exceed its monthly average of 136.6 mm (5.4 inches).

Accompanying temperatures are below the average for the season. Daily maximum on May 24 was 35.4°C (95.7°F) in Kolkata, which is one degree under average.

The cyclonic weather pattern is attracting the abundant amount of moisture from the Bay of Bengal, and the forecast predicts rainfall and thunderstorms will continue over the region for the next day or two.

After that, the rainfall is expected to subside, and the maximum temperatures will start to rise again.

Featured image: The tarmac becomes a lake in Kolkata by Fionn Kidney (CC – Flickr)