Low Pressure brewing over Bay of Bengal, heavy rainfall to batter Odisha till May 30

Odisha is set to experience a prolonged spell of heavy rainfall till May 30, driven by a combination of pre-monsoon showers and an impending low-pressure system brewing over the Bay of Bengal.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the low-pressure area is expected to form over the west-central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal by May 27, bringing widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds across several districts.

IMD Issues Multi-Day Weather Warnings

The IMD has issued specific day-wise forecasts to alert local administrations and the public:

Day 1 (Till May 25 morning): Orange warning for thunderstorms and gusty winds (40–50 kmph) in districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, and Ganjam. Heavy to very heavy rain is likely in Bhadrak, Cuttack, and Kendrapada.

Day 2 (May 25–26): Yellow warning issued for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in Rayagada, Gajapati, Koraput, and Mayurbhanj.

Day 3 (May 26–27): Warnings extended to Sundargarh, Khurda, Nayagarh, Kalahandi, and Puri, among others.

Day 4 (May 27–28): Gusty winds (40–50 kmph) and heavy rain are expected in coastal districts, including Balasore, Jajpur, and Ganjam.

With conditions likely to persist and intensify, the IMD is keeping a close watch on the system’s movement.

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Early Monsoon Onset Boosts Rain Activity

Adding to the rain-bearing reports is the early arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala, reported nearly eight days ahead of its typical June 1 onset. This is only the third such instance in over 30 years; previously, the monsoon had arrived early in 1990 (May 19) and in 2009 (May 23). In 2024, the onset was reported on May 30.

This year’s early arrival is expected to expedite the monsoon’s northward progress into eastern and central India, including Odisha.

Meteorologists suggest that the combination of the early monsoon and the developing low-pressure system may lead to an advanced onset of the seasonal rains over Odisha, possibly much earlier than the usual June 10–12 window.

ALSO READ: Kalbaisakhi, rain alert issued for five Odisha districts along with Bhubaneswar and Cuttack

Pre-Monsoon Showers Already Felt Across Odisha

Pre-monsoon activity has already commenced across several parts of Odisha. On May 24, the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack experienced light to moderate rainfall, bringing temporary relief from the summer heat. Other districts like Malkangiri, Koraput, and Rayagada also reported scattered showers.