Monsoon likely to be delayed by a week in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: The South-West monsoon that hit Kerala on Saturday after a week’s delay is also likely to arrive late by a week in Odisha. The rains usually hit Odisha by June 10 or June 12. Currently, Odisha is witnessing rain due to Norwesters.
“There is no direct connection between monsoon’s arrival in Kerala and Odisha. It depends upon the activity of the monsoon current and wind speed that help in the movement of the monsoon.We have not yet announced any particular date for monsoon to hit Odisha,” said H R Biswas, director of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bhubaneswar.
Met sources said in the next 48 hours the monsoon is likely to proceed to Lakshadweep, some parts of Tamil Nadu and also north-eastern states. Then it will proceed to eastern states like West Bengal and Odisha. This year, the monsoon will be normal across the country, IMD has forecast. “So far there is no sign of the onset of monsoon in Odisha in the next two days. Any formation of system in the Bay of Bengal may advance its movement. We can announce the date at least three to four days ahead of the monsoon reaching Odisha,” Biswas said.
The IMD announces arrival of monsoon after rain lashes the state for 48 hours without break and covers a wide area and a similar trend of rain is expected for the next couple of days. Soon after the arrival of monsoon, temperature drops to normal and humidity levels at upper atmospheric level remains high. The monsoon had hit Odisha two days ahead of its official date on June 8 last year and then weakened for about a week.
Meanwhile, Norwesters have brought the temperature down. The highest temperature of 41°C was recorded in Sambalpur on Saturday. Pre-monsoon showers are likely to start in the state from next week if there is sufficient moisture content in the atmosphere. “It will also not allow the temperature to rise further,” a senior officer in the met department said.
Thunderstorm and lightning are likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Jagatsingpur, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Angul, Cuttack, Khurdha, Balasore, Deogarh, Gajapati, Ganjam and Mayurbhanj in the next two days. The temperature across the state is likely to increase a few notches and humidity levels will remain high for a couple of days, the weatherman has forecast.