Monsoon Withdraws But Rain Spell To Continue!

Bhubaneswar: The sweltering heat on Friday, if not anything, was a clear indication that the southwest monsoon had withdrawn from Odisha.

The monsoon had arrived in the state on June 8 this year, two days ahead of the normal date, and withdrew on Friday. The cumulative rainfall of the state from June 1 to September 30 was 1292.2 mm against the long-term average of 1144.3 mm, which was a surplus of 12.9 per cent.

However, people can expect some respite from the prevailing hear as a fresh low pressure is likely to form over south Bay of Bengal and neighborhood around October 8. The system is likely to become more marked and move towards Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts during the subsequent 72 hours, according to a bulletin of India Meteorological Department (IMD).

“Under its influence, enhanced rainfall activity is likely from October 10,” the IMD said.

On Thursday, former director of Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, and director of Centre for Environment and Climate at the SOA (Deemed to be University) Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu had said that the low-pressure would trigger a fresh spell of rains along coastal Odisha.

“It is likely to move closer to the Odisha coast on October 11 and move from the south to north intensifying into a depression or deep depression and cross the north Odisha coast on October 12,” he said.

Under its influence, there will be light to moderate rainfall along the coast from October 9 after which moderate to heavy rainfall may occur in the districts of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Khurda, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj between October 11 and 13, Sahu added.