Bhubaneswar: Several parts of Odisha on Friday received monsoon showers as the northern limit of the rain-bearing system continued to pass through Koraput and Phulbani.
This morning, coastal and capital regions experienced total cloud cover, while western and northern districts saw heavily overcast, slightly broken skies. Perfect “8 Oktas” readings in Bhubaneswar, Chandbali, Puri, and Paradip signalled a high probability of sustained rain. This heavy cover coincides with the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of a potential low-pressure system, the season’s first, forming around June 24–25 over the North Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Odisha coast. Such systems act as catalysts for monsoon advancement by strengthening winds, enhancing moisture transport, and pulling the rain-bearing current further north.
This is good news for Odisha where the southwest monsoon went into a hiatus on June 15 after its onset on June 12. While monsoon’s progress has remained slow due to the absence of a strong weather system over the Bay of Bengal, rainfall activity in the state is expected to increase after June 26.
According to the national forecaster, conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of the state during the next 3-4 days. It has forecast heavy rainfall in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj on June 19; Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak on June 20; and Koraput on June 21.
Intense thunderstorm activity is also likely on these two days.
An orange warning of thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (50-60 kmph) has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati districts on June 19-20. Similar weather conditions with wind speed of 40-50 kmph may also occur in Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh on these days.
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may continue at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh during the subsequent three days.
Squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph occasionally gusting to 60 kmph may also prevail along & off the Odisha Coast from June 19-23, during which the state may also experience a drop in the day temperature by 203 degrees.
While there is no warning thereafter, light to moderate rain or thundershower may occur at a few places in South Odisha and at one or two places in North Odisha during the subsequent 5 days.
