Bhubaneswar: Odisha has recorded substantial rainfall so far this monsoon season, logging 28% excess rainfall through late August with no district reporting deficient or scanty showers.
According to official data from India Meteorological Department, the state recorded a cumulative rainfall of 1,100.2 mm between June 1 and August 26, significantly higher than the seasonal normal average of 856.7 mm for this period.
Following a sluggish start in June that ended with a rainfall deficit, the monsoon gathered momentum through July and August. July experienced an extraordinary surge with 91% excess rainfall alone, while August continued the trend by registering 347.7 mm rain, 16.4% above its monthly normal of 298.6 mm. Heavy, continuous downpours triggered repeated flood-like situations across several northern districts. Baleshwar recorded its highest combined July-August rainfall in nearly two decades, as cumulative downpour crossed 1,168 mm, according to SRC.
District-wise data shows that 22 districts recorded above-normal rainfall of 20% or more:
1. Large Excess Districts (+60% or more) Central and western regions recorded significant rainfall surges:
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Boudh: 1532.3 mm (+98%)
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Sonpur: 1546.0 mm (+70%)
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Baragada: 1504.9 mm (+65%)
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Baleshwar: 1383.0 mm (+61%)
2. Excess Districts (+20% to +59%) A major belt stretching from northern to coastal Odisha registered excess monsoon activity:
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Kendujhar: 1337.0 mm (+58%)
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Kendrapada: 1236.7 mm (+55%)
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Dhenkanal: 1251.6 mm (+52%)
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Debagada: 1332.1 mm (+51%)
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Balangir: 1237.2 mm (+50%)
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Sambalpur: 1420.4 mm (+46%)
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Kataka: 1210.6 mm (+44%)
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Puri: 1033.3 mm (+42%)
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Mayurbhanj: 1253.5 mm (+39%)
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Bhadrak: 1083.3 mm (+38%)
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Jagatsinghpur: 1039.6 mm (+38%)
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Anugola (Angul): 1149.5 mm (+37%)
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Sundaragada: 1198.4 mm (+30%)
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Kandhamala: 1074.5 mm (+30%)
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Khordha: 1004.1 mm (+28%)
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Nayagada: 983.9 mm (+25%)
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Nuapada: 947.9 mm (+24%)
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Jajpur: 1105.8 mm (+22%)
3. Normal Districts (-19% to +19%) Southern districts recorded steady, within-range seasonal totals:
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Jharsuguda: 1058.3 mm (+17%)
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Koraput: 931.0 mm (+1%)
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Rayagada: 720.1 mm (-1%)
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Ganjam: 566.5 mm (-9%)
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Malkangiri: 857.8 mm (-11%)
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Kalahandi: 926.7 mm (-13%)
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Nabarangpur: 865.3 mm (-16%)
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Gajapati: 534.3 mm (-16%)
In the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Wednesday, Odisha recorded 3.3 mm rainfall against the normal 10.9 mm, with a 70% deficit. Malakangiri received the highest of 13 mm, followed by Puri at 12.1 mm and Khordha at 11.4 mm.
Odisha, however, is gearing up for another spell of heavy rain coupled with thunderstorm activity as a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a low pressure area around August 28. On August 29, an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for the districts of Anugola, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj. Similar warning continues for the districts of Sundaragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj on August 30; Sundaragada, Anugola, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur on August 31; and Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, and Kendujhar on September 1.