Onset of South West monsoon in Odisha on or after June 23

With the remnants of the severe cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’ over the Arabian Sea having weakened along with decrease in north-westerly wind speed and change in wind direction, the unbearable day temperature across Odisha is expected to fall soon, SOA’s Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) said on Monday.

The day temperature will fall both in interior and coastal Odisha but western districts would continue to experience 40 to 42 degrees C heat till June 21 while the temperature in coastal region would hover between 36 to 38 degrees C, Dr. Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of CEC, said.

“Models indicate that less than 35 degrees C day temperature will be experienced across the state from June 23,” he said.

Dr. Sahu said remnants of ‘Biparjoy’ had weakened to a depression over Rajasthan and its neighbourhood which caused flow of strong north-westerly dry and hot wind at a speed of 45 km per hour from Pakistan towards the Bay of Bengal in the lower atmosphere through north west India, central India and Odisha. This was responsible for the long spell of severe heat wave over many parts of the state.

Convergence persisted over Bay of Bengal and sea breeze was absent which did not allow radiational cooling, particularly during the night causing discomfort to continue for a week, he said adding though Kalbaisakhi (norwester) occurred sporadically accompanied by light rain in a few locations, it did not counter the heat wave.

Dr. Sahu said a cyclonic circulation was likely to form over Jharkhand and adjoining Bihar and West Bengal on June 23 which was expected to move south towards north Odisha which could trigger rain in the state from June 23 to 25. This could favour the onset of south west monsoon in Odisha on or after June 23, he said.

However, pre-monsoon norwester would occur up to June 23 while light to moderate rainfall was expected over the state with heavy rainfall likely at one or two places over north Odisha.

Dr. Sahu said a low pressure area was likely to form over north-west Bay of Bengal on June 29 and the system could cause widespread rainfall with increased intensity over Odisha.

As regards the annual car festival scheduled at Puri on Tuesday, Dr. Sahu said the day temperature in the temple city would vary between 33 and 35 degrees C during the day with humidity level oscillating between 65 and 75 per cent. There was less probability of rainfall on the festival day, he said.