Monsoon set to arrive in two days

The stage is set for the onset of the southwest monsoon in Odisha. With most of the monsoon  parameters in place, the Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon  current activated as a cyclonic circulation was forming in northern Bengal and adjoining Bihar.

The system would move southwards and pave the way for the arrival of monsoon in the next 48 hours, national forecaster India Meteorological Department (IMD) said yesterday.

By 19-20 June, the monsoon would cover the entire state, it added. Similar views were echoed by the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).

According to the report of the vice chancellor SN Pashupalak, pre-monsoon conditions started yesterday, with overcast conditions accompanied by rainfall over different parts of the state.

In the last 24-hours northern, coastal and even interior pockets of the state had received showers.

Overall temperature had fallen below 35 degree Celsius at several places and of 24 stations, 13 recorded  a maximum day temperature of 35 degree or below.

As there was no westerly wind flow, the mercury would likely drop further in the next three days. According to the report, a cyclonic circulation would likely form over the west central Bay of Bengal by 17 June and the system would thereafter move to central coast of Andhra Pradesh.

The intensity of rains will increase significantly from 17 June and all the coastal areas would receive good rain with thundershowers.

By 18 June the circulation will move inland and with this, the rain belt would also shift with precipitation occurring over interior Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Maharashtra.

The system will also strengthen the monsoon surge and activate the off-shore trough running all along the west coast.

Rains that had been subdued over Kerala, Coastal Karnataka and Konkan & Goa including Mumbai, would pick up pace and moderate to heavy rains would be seen.