Rainfall Intensity Likely To Increase In Odisha From Oct 19, Cast A Cloud Over Diwali

Bhubaneswar Coastal districts of Odisha are likely to witness an increase in rainfall activity, beginning Wednesday (October 19), under the influence of the anticipated cyclonic circulation over the Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood around Tuesday (October 18).

A cyclonic circulation is likely to form over north Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood around October 18. It would move west northwestwards towards westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal becoming low-pressure area around October 20,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Amid speculation of a strong system building up based on GFS models, the MeT office here further said that there is a moderate probability that the low-pressure area will move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal at the beginning of the October 21-27 week. “Odisha is expected to receive rainfall under the influence of low pressure. Details on intensification, path and impact of the system on the state can be ascertained in the next two days,” IMD DG, Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told the media.

Notably, the national weather forecaster has issued no rainfall warning till the morning of October 21 while making a forecast for light to moderate rain in coastal and southern districts of the state.

On October 19, rainfall is likely in coastal districts along with Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput while some districts of coastal Odisha, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput districts may get showers on October 20. The system, however, is likely to cast a shadow on Diwali celebrations.

According to private forecaster Skymet, cyclonic circulation is expected to develop over the North Andaman Sea and the adjoining area around October 18. It will induce a low-pressure area around October 20 while moving in the west-north-west direction. Conditions are becoming favourable for further withdrawal of southwest monsoon from some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Maharashtra and Jharkhand, some parts of interior Odisha and the entire West Bengal in the next 24 hours, a report said on Monday.

Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said that monsoon would resume in the next couple of days. “A low to form near the Andaman Islands later this week then can strengthen to a deep depression and cyclonic storm before impacting east India from Andhra Pradesh to West Bengal around 24th,” he tweeted on Sunday.