Monsoon May Reach South Odisha By June 20, Says SOA’s CEC

Bhubaneswar: The southwest monsoon may reach south Odisha between June 17 and 20 if the severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy continues its present course, said SC Sahu, Director of SOA’s Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

Sahu said the cyclone has caused the delay in the onset of west monsoon in Kerala, but the wind pattern around the cyclone could cause development of cloud and rain along India’s west coast.

“Some models are indicating that westerly wind flow due to cyclonic circulation could get strengthened and trigger rains along the western coast including Karnataka and Kerala causing the onset of monsoon in Kerala and neighbouring areas on or after June 9,” he said.

Sahu further said the cyclonic storm over the Arabian Sea was located about 990 km south west of Mumbai and was likely to move northwards and subsequently take a north-northwestwardly direction. If similar westerly or south-westerly wind continued over the western coast, the onset of monsoon in south Odisha may take place between June 17 and 20, he added.

Besides, a cyclonic circulation persisted over east central Bay of Bengal and nearby areas which was likely to move along Bangladesh and Myanmar coast. It was drawing hot and dry air from the Indian mainland towards the sea favouring heat wave conditions over Odisha and neighbouring eastern states, Sahu said.

As a result, severe heat wave condition may be experienced between June 8 and 14 in interior and coastal districts of Odisha and a few places in interior parts of the state could record day temperature above 45 degrees Celsius. One or two coastal centres may experience temperature of around 45 degrees Celsius during the period, he said.