Monsoon likely to make late arrival in Odisha: IMD

Bhubaneswar: Southwest monsoon, that hit Kerala after a week-long delay Saturday, is likely to make a late arrival in Odisha, the IMD’s regional centre here said.

The monsoon is unlikely to hit Odisha in the next four-five days and no specific date has been announced about its arrival, H R Biswas, Director of the Meteorological Centre here said.

The monsoon usually makes an onset in Odisha by June 10, he said.

“At present, there is no sign of the onset of monsoon in Odisha and a clear picture is likely to emerge in a day or two,” he said.

Several parts of Odisha have been experiencing rains and thunderstorms due to Norwesters in the last few days.

Pointing out that there was no direct link between the monsoons arrival in Kerala and Odisha, Biswas said, “It all depends on the activity of the monsoon current and wind speed that help in its movement.”

Many areas in western Odisha are still reeling under intense heat with Sambalpur recording a maximum temperature of 43.6 degree Celsius followed by 43.1 degree C in Hirakud, 42.6 degree C in Titlagarh and 42.6 degree C in Jharsuguda, the MeT centre said.

PTI