The Great Withdrawal: As Monsoon Exits Bengal, A Season of Respite and Reflection Dawns 

The monsoon has officially begun its withdrawal from West Bengal, marking a critical seasonal shift that promises relief after a particularly destructive rainy season characterized by Kolkata’s severe flooding and deadly landslides in the north. With the Met Office forecasting a complete exit by October 18, the retreat paves the way for drier, cool northerly winds to lower both maximum and minimum temperatures, clear the skies, and reduce humidity.

This transition is more than a meteorological event; it represents a collective exhale for the region, initiating a period of cultural and agricultural change as the state moves from a traumatic chapter of natural fury into the pleasant, early winter phase ideal for recovery, community life, and festival preparations.

The Great Withdrawal: As Monsoon Exits Bengal, A Season of Respite and Reflection Dawns 

Meta Description: The monsoon’s retreat from West Bengal marks more than a weather shift. It’s a cultural, agricultural, and emotional pivot point for the region, offering relief after a season of record-breaking, destructive rains. 

The Curtain Call: Monsoon Begins Its Retreat from Bengal 

On a quiet Sunday in October, a subtle but significant shift began in the skies over West Bengal. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore made the official announcement: the Southwest Monsoon has commenced its withdrawal from the state. This isn’t merely a line in a weather bulletin; it is the starting gun for the most pleasant transitional phase in the Bengali calendar. The oppressive humidity is set to break, the relentless grey canopy will give way to a brilliant, washed-blue sky, and the stage is being set for the gentle embrace of early winter. 

For Kolkata and the surrounding regions, this signals the end of a particularly ferocious monsoon season—one that will be remembered not for its life-giving rains but for its destructive fury. The Met Office forecasts a complete exit by October 18, paving the way for cool, dry northerly winds to sweep across the Gangetic plains. But as we stand at this meteorological crossroads, it’s worth looking beyond the forecast to understand what this transition truly means for the land, its people, and its spirit. 

The Science of the Retreat: A Precise Meteorological Ballet 

The withdrawal of the monsoon is not a random event; it is a precise, slow-moving dance dictated by global wind patterns. While its arrival in June is often dramatic and eagerly awaited, its retreat is a more gradual, quiet affair. 

The process begins with the sun’s southward march following the summer solstice, leading to a weakening of the intense low-pressure system over the Thar Desert that acts as the monsoon’s engine. Simultaneously, the high-pressure belt begins to build over the Himalayan foothills. This shift causes the dominant wind direction to reverse, no longer blowing moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal onto the subcontinent, but instead allowing drier, continental winds from the north and northwest to infiltrate. 

As the Met official noted, the retreat has begun in parts of North Bengal and is progressing steadily southwards. The departure from states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra is a key indicator that the larger synoptic pattern is shifting. For South Bengal, including Kolkata, the immediate effects are already visible: a decrease in cloud cover, a drop in humidity, and a cessation of widespread rainfall. The cyclonic circulation over South Bangladesh, while causing some scattered showers, is a fleeting phenomenon, unable to stall the larger, inexorable retreat. 

From Deluge to Respite: A Look Back at a Traumatic Monsoon Season 

To fully appreciate the relief of this withdrawal, one must confront the trauma of the monsoon that was. The year 2025 has been one for the record books, and not in a good way. The statistics tell a stark story: 

• The Kolkata Deluge (September 23): The city of joy was transformed into a city of anguish overnight. Incessant rain, of an intensity that overwhelmed a century-old drainage system, inundated almost the entire metropolis. Streets became rivers, homes were flooded, and the city’s pulse slowed to a standstill. The memory of wading through chest-deep water, of lost property, and of civic collapse is still fresh in the minds of Kolkatans. 

• The North Bengal Landslides (Early October): Even more devastating were the landslides in the hilly regions of North Bengal. Triggered by overnight heavy rain, these massive mudslides wiped out villages, burying homes and dreams under tons of earth and rock. The tragic loss of about 40 lives is a somber reminder that the monsoon is not just about romance and poetry; it is a powerful, and at times, deadly, force of nature. 

This context is crucial. The withdrawal of the monsoon isn’t just a seasonal change; it is the closing of a painful chapter. The “no heavy rain in sight” forecast is not just a meteorological detail—it is a promise of safety, stability, and a chance to rebuild. 

The Human and Cultural Shift: More Than Just a Dip in the Mercury 

The post-monsoon period, known as Hemanto (early winter) in Bengali tradition, is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of the region. The change in weather precipitates a change in lifestyle and mood. 

• The Resurgence of Public Life: The parks—the Maidan, the Rabindra Sarobar lake—which were deserted during the downpours and waterlogging, will once again thrum with life. Morning walkers will return in droves, children will play football on the soggy grounds now drying out, and the evening adda (informal chat sessions) will move from cramped living rooms back to the park benches and street-side tea stalls. 

• A Culinary Transition: The Bengali kitchen begins its seasonal shift. The heavy, watery dishes of the monsoon (like Ilish Paturi cooked in banana leaf) make way for different flavors. The markets will soon see an influx of seasonal winter vegetables—cauliflower, cabbage, a variety of greens (shak), and the highly anticipated arrival of the Nolen Gur (date palm jaggery). The promise of Nolen Gur-er Sandesh and hot Payesh is just around the corner. 

• Festival Preparations: The clear, pleasant weather is the prelude to Bengal’s biggest festival—Durga Puja. While the Pujas have passed by October, the clean, crisp air is perfect for the upcoming Kali Puja and Diwali. It’s the season for new clothes that won’t stick to your skin, for evening fireworks that won’t be doused by rain, and for community gatherings under a star-lit sky. 

The Agricultural and Economic Implications 

For the agrarian sectors in the rural belts of both North and South Bengal, the monsoon’s withdrawal is a signal. The Kharif crop cycle (e.g., Aman rice) is nearing its end, and the retreating rains provide the dry conditions necessary for the grains to mature and harden before harvest. Farmers can now look forward to a period without the anxiety of their fields being waterlogged or crops destroyed by untimely heavy showers. 

Furthermore, the construction and real estate sectors, which often face delays during the monsoons, can now work at full pace. The tourism industry, too, gets a boost. The hill stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, often shrouded in mist and rain during the monsoon, will offer clear, breathtaking views of the Kanchenjunga range, drawing tourists back to the hills. 

Looking Ahead: What to Expect in the Coming Weeks 

The Met Office’s prediction is clear: a swift transition. Residents of Kolkata and West Bengal can expect: 

• A Gradual Temperature Drop: The maximum temperature, which was recorded at a pleasant 30.4°C (2.2 degrees below normal), will likely see a further slight dip. More significantly, the minimum temperature will begin to fall more noticeably, especially at night and in the early mornings. The need for a light blanket by the end of October is almost a certainty. 

• Clear Skies and Lower Humidity: The “mostly cloudless” sky means an abundance of sunshine, but it will be the gentle, golden sunshine of autumn, not the harsh glare of summer. The decrease in humidity is the single biggest relief, making the air feel light and breathable. 

• Improved Air Quality: The rains have washed the atmosphere clean of much of its particulate pollution. The ensuing dry, cool period, before the winter smog sets in, often offers the best air quality of the year. 

A Season of Collective Exhale 

The withdrawal of the monsoon from Bengal is more than a meteorological event; it is a collective, regional exhale. It is nature’s way of offering a respite, a period of healing and beauty after a season of tumult. It’s a time when the state can dry off, clean up, and look forward to the most joyous and vibrant months of the year. 

As the last vestiges of the monsoon winds drift away towards the Bay of Bengal by October 18, they take with them the memory of floods and landslides. In their place, they leave behind a clearer, cooler, and more hopeful horizon—a promise of peaceful evenings, festive lights, and the gentle, reassuring rhythm of a kinder season.