‘Monsoon Rain To Increase After June 27’

Bhubaneswar: Sporadic thunderstorm activity, especially in coastal Odisha, may occur till June 26 but monsoon rain is likely to pick up momentum thereafter due to formation of a cyclonic circulation over north Bay of Bengal, the Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) at the SOA (Deemed to be University) said on Tuesday.

This cyclonic circulation may turn into a low pressure area within 48 hours from June 27, CEC Director Dr. S C Sahu said. He is the former director of regional meteorological centre of the India Meteorological Centre (IMD), Bhubaneswar.

Heatwave conditions, however, might continue over coastal and adjoining districts up to June 21 with decline in temperature as compared to the last three days, he said, adding the mercury may hover between 36 and 38 degrees C.

The aerosol concentration, as per satellite data, had decreased in eastern India indicating the probability of fall in temperature and isolated thunderstorm activity over coastal Odisha and adjoining districts. But rainfall might not be widespread and heavy due to strong convection over Bangladesh and adjoining Myanmar which might cause subduction of air over Odisha region to support decrease of rainfall, he said.

Meanwhile, the IMD here on Tuesday issued thunderstorm warning for six districts of Odisha.

The districts likely to be affected are Ganjam, Gajapati, Keonjhar, Rayagada, Kalahandi ad Dhenkanal.

According to a Met bulletin, strong wind speed reaching 50 to 60 kmph is expected to prevail at these places till 8 pm.

However, the state continued to reel under severe heatwave conditions with the temperature soaring above 40 degrees Celsius at 13 places this afternoon.

The Odisha capital emerged as the hottest place in the state for the third consecutive day with the mercury shooting up to 42.2 degrees Celsius. The lowest minimum temperature of 21 degree C was recorded in Sundargarh.

The weatherman has predicted that similar weather conditions for the next four or five days.