Southwest Monsoon Advances Towards Odisha; IMD Issues Thunderstorm Alerts Across 26 Districts

The southwest monsoon is steadily advancing towards Odisha, with weather conditions remaining favourable for its further progress into parts of the state within the next three to four days. The information was shared by Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar.

While Kalbaisakhi thunderstorms have provided temporary relief from the scorching heat and humidity, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of continued thunderstorm activity across most parts of the state over the next 24 hours.

Orange Alert for Eight Districts

The IMD has issued thunderstorm warnings for 26 districts, excluding Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh and Jharsuguda.

An Orange Alert has been issued for Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur districts. These areas are likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, moderate to heavy rainfall and gusty winds reaching speeds of 50 to 60 kmph.

A Yellow Warning has been issued for the remaining 17 districts, where thunderstorms, lightning and wind speeds of 40 to 50 kmph are expected.

Heatwave Conditions Likely to Persist

Despite intermittent rainfall, the weather department has cautioned that residents may not get immediate relief from the prevailing heat. Temperatures across Odisha are expected to rise by as much as three degrees Celsius over the next three days.

Coastal and southern Odisha are likely to experience severe heat and uncomfortable humidity levels, making conditions oppressive for residents.

On Sunday, temperatures crossed 40 degrees Celsius in several parts of the state, including Bhubaneswar and many locations in western Odisha. Hot winds swept across the region from late morning before weather conditions changed dramatically in the afternoon.

Kalbaisakhi Brings Rain and Strong Winds

Several coastal districts, including Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Paradip and Balasore, witnessed heavy rain and strong winds under the influence of Kalbaisakhi storms. Intense lightning and thunder accompanied the showers, causing concern among residents.

Boudh recorded the highest daytime temperature in the state at 41.9 degrees Celsius. Titlagarh registered 41.7 degrees Celsius, while Bhawanipatna and Nayagarh recorded 41.5 degrees Celsius each. Talcher reported 41 degrees Celsius, while Balangir, Sambalpur and Sonepur recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

Monsoon Likely to Enter Odisha Between June 10 and 13

Senior agrometeorologist Professor Surendranath Pasupalak has predicted that the southwest monsoon is likely to reach Odisha between June 10 and June 13.

According to him, monsoon activity over the Bay of Bengal had been relatively slow in recent weeks. However, significant improvement has been observed over the past two days, with the monsoon advancing further and moisture-laden winds spreading towards Odisha.

The changing weather pattern across coastal and southern Odisha, marked by frequent thunderstorms and rainfall, indicates favourable conditions for monsoon onset.

Rainfall Activity Expected to Increase

Professor Pasupalak noted that cloud cover is expected to increase between now and June 10, leading to higher humidity levels and more frequent thunderstorm activity.

As monsoon conditions strengthen, temperatures are likely to gradually decline. Rainfall activity is expected to intensify between June 12 and June 15 under the direct influence of the southwest monsoon.

Western Odisha, however, may have to wait slightly longer. The monsoon is expected to reach the region between June 12 and June 16, with widespread monsoon rains likely between June 15 and June 18.

Until then, residents of western Odisha are expected to continue experiencing intense heat, with significant relief unlikely before June 10.