Bhubaneswar: Sultry weather conditions for the past few days are making residents of Odisha capital and several other places in the state sweat excessively and feel drained. Bhubaneswar recorded a temperature of 32.2 degree Celsius by 8.30 am and 30.2 degree Celsius by 5:30 am on Saturday and humidity of 79% and 96% at the respective hours. The mercury soared to 37.2 degree Celsius in the state capital by 11.30 am while humidity was recorded at 64%, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told the media that sweltering heat and high humidity usually prevail before the arrival of monsoon. “The southwest monsoon normally arrives in Odisha around June 12 and this has been delayed as it had hit the Indian mainland with onset over Kerala seven days behind schedule. There is a forecast for rain in Odisha from June 15. But no prediction has been made so far on the onset of monsoon over Odisha. It will be done in the next couple of days,” he said.
Mohapatra said that conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Kerala, some more parts of Tamil Nadu, some parts of Karnataka and some more parts of southwest, central & northeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of northeastern states during next 24 hours. “Conditions are also becoming favourable for advance of southwest Monsoon over the remaining parts of northeastern states and some parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during subsequent 48 hours because of the well-marked low pressure area over Bay of Bengal off Mynmar and Bangladesh coasts. It will then cover some more parts of southern states, including Konkan and Goa, before heading towards central India,” he added.
The southwest monsoon may reach south Odisha between June 17 and June 20 if the severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy continues its present course, Director of SOA’s Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC), Bhubaneswar, SC Sahu had said on Wednesday.
The monsoon normally arrives in Kerala around June 1 before advancing northwards and covering the entire country by July 15. It had set in over Odisha on June 16 last year, touching southern parts of the coastal state.
