Southwest Monsoon Likely to Advance into Odisha in 4-5 Days

Bhubaneswar: Conditions are favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into parts of Odisha over the next four to five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday while issuing an Orange Warning for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in several districts.

According to the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, the southwest monsoon has advanced into the remaining parts of the northeastern states, the entire Sikkim and parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal. The IMD said conditions are now favourable for its advance into Odisha and adjoining parts of eastern and central India.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at a few places across the state till Wednesday morning. An Orange Warning has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Koraput and Malkangiri districts, where thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 50-60 kmph may occur at isolated places.

A Yellow Warning has been sounded for several other districts, including Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Angul, Nayagarh, Kalahandi and Rayagada. Hot and humid conditions are also likely in some coastal and adjoining areas.

The IMD said thunderstorm activity will continue over the next week, with rainfall expected to intensify from June 11. Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Malkangiri on June 11, and in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati on June 12.

The bulletin also noted damage caused by Monday’s Kalbaishakhi storm in Bhubaneswar. Around 20 sweet stalls at Pahala were damaged, traffic on NH-16 was disrupted due to a fallen tree and a parked car was damaged. Media reports cited by the IMD said four people died in storm-related incidents across Odisha.

Among the highest rainfall recorded during the past 24 hours were Karlamunda (60 mm), Digapahandi (50 mm) and Banpur, Kesinga and Odagaon (40 mm each).

Titilagarh recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature at 42 degrees Celsius, while Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada and Bhawanipatna reported the lowest minimum temperature of 23 degrees Celsius. Maximum temperatures are expected to fall by 2-3 degrees Celsius after the next three days.

For Bhubaneswar and nearby areas, the IMD has forecast a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of rain or thunderstorms during the next 24 hours.