Bhubaneswar: Baleshwar district in Odisha has recorded its highest combined July-August rainfall in nearly two decades, with cumulative downpour from July 1 to August 23, 2026, already reaching 1,168.6 mm, according to Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) data.
This figure surpasses the full two-month totals for every year between 2008 and 2025, even with more than a week of August remaining.
The previous high for the July-August period stood at 969.23 mm in 2014, followed by 805.19 mm in 2022 and 730.37 mm in 2009. By comparison, the district received just 494.65 mm in the same months of 2025, 384.08 mm in 2024 and 587.4 mm in 2023, meaning this year’s tally is more than double last year’s and nearly triple the 2024 amount.
Other years in the 19-year span were markedly lower, including 550.2 mm in 2008, 425.29 mm in 2010, 486.25 mm in 2011, 437.61 mm in 2012, 560.41 mm in 2013, 664.65 mm in 2015, 638.47 mm in 2016, 594.49 mm in 2017, 661.61 mm in 2018, 556.03 mm in 2019, 563.44 mm in 2020 and 436.79 mm in 2021.
The exceptional accumulation has been driven by successive weather systems, including a deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal in late July that triggered extremely heavy rain across northern and coastal Odisha. Baleshwar recorded 246.6 mm in a single 24-hour period ending on July 28, with some areas of the district seeing even higher totals earlier that week, leading to widespread waterlogging, submerged roads and flooding in residential neighbourhoods.
Further intense spells continued into August, with one station in the district registering 217 mm on August 17.
Odisha had already received more than 1,000 mm of monsoon rainfall by mid-August, about 28 per cent above the long-period average, placing the state in the excess category and contributing to repeated flood impacts in northern districts including Baleshwar.
As heavy rainfall warning continues for the state till August 29, the district’s July-August total is expected to climb further, cementing the 2026 season as the wettest such period in at least 19 years.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, PR & DW Department, on Monday reviewed the prevailing flood situation in Baleshwar district with line departments and Block Development Officers, in the presence of the Collector. The review focused on preparedness, response measures, and ongoing relief and restoration activities. The Commissioner-cum-Secretary also visited flood-affected areas of Baleshwar Sadar Block to assess the ground situation and review relief measures for affected communities, an official post on X said.