Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall and intense thunderstorm activity in Odisha till the end of this month.
This comes as a welcome reprieve for a state enduring a weak start to the monsoon. June is a critical month for planting kharif crops, but a severe 52% rainfall deficit over the past week (June 18–24) has severely disrupted farming across the state. The slump highlights a broader trend this month: from June 1 to 22, the state received a meagre 70.9 mm of rain, nearly half its usual 137.2 mm average.
While absence of strong weather systems over the Bay of Bengal contributed to the prolonged sultry spell with warning also issued for June 26, the possibility of a low pressure area over North Bay of Bengal around July 3-4 may intensify rainfall activity in the state.
IMD Forecast For 5 Days
June 26
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may occur at one or two places in the districts of Sundargada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj,
Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada. Similar weather conditions with wind speed of 30-40 kmph may also prevail in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Soepur, Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi and Kandhamala.
Heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places in Koraput district.
Hot and humid conditions may prevail at isolated places in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Anugola, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.
June 27
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may occur at one or two places in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj. Similar weather conditions with wind speed of 30-40 kmph may also prevail in Sundargada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Sonpur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.
Heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places in Koraput and Kandhamala districts.
June 28
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) may occur at one or two places in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundargada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonpur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.
Heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places in Rayagada, Koraput and Kandhamala districts.
June 29-30
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may occur at one or two places in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati. Similar weather conditions with wind speed of 30-40 kmph may also prevail in Sundargada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Sonpur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.
Heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places in Nabarangpur and Koraput districts.
Heavy Rainfall may continue in Nabarangpur and Koraput districts on June 29; and Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri on June 30. While there is no warning thereafter, light to moderate rain or thundershower may occur at many places across the state during the subsequent 5 days.
