Bhubaneswar: Southwest monsoon arrived in Odisha Friday, ending a prolonged heatwave that had pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius across several districts.
“The southwest monsoon set in over Odisha June 12. It covered some parts of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts,” said Manorama Mohanty, Director of IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre.
Rainfall with thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching up to 50-60 kmph are likely to occur in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Gajapati on Saturday, she said.
Heavy rain is likely to lash parts of Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Gajapati Saturday, the IMD said in a bulletin, issuing an ‘orange warning’ (be prepared to take action) for these districts.
Forecasting thunderstorms, lightning and rain on Friday, the IMD issued a ‘yellow warning’ (be aware) for Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh districts.
Hot and humid conditions would prevail in several places of the state, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh on Saturday, it added.
The IMD forecast light to moderate rainfall through June 19, with temperatures expected to drop considerably in the coming days.
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The arrival coincides with the three-day Raja Festival, and forecasters said the rains are expected to support the start of kharif sowing — the summer crop season — benefiting farmers across the state.
The IMD issued a yellow warning for multiple districts, cautioning residents about possible thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds.
PNN & Agencies
