Bay of Bengal to host 1st Monsoon depression; heavy rainfall in south & south east Odisha from today

Bhubaneswar: After registering a deficient rainfall of around 34 per cent during the month of June, the coming month (July) will be a wet one for Odisha.

As per the rainfall data till date with the IMD, the first week of the month of June saw good rainfall. But the 2nd and 3rd week of the month were among one of the driest period in the State as the departures were in the range of -38 to -78 per cent.

However, the dry spell days are numbered. It seems July will bring good rainfall for the State, and this will definitely bode well for the State's farming sector that is majorly rainfed in nature.

The latest weather models suggest that a low pressure area (LPA) to be formed in next 24 hours in the north Bay of Bengal (BoB) and it to develop into a depression as the wind speed in the area will remain above 17 knots. Given the favourable conditions, the LPA will become the first depression of this monsoon season or say the first monsoon depression.

Under its influence, Odisha will see a bountiful of rainfall during the first two days of July. As the lifespan of the monsoon depression is generally five days. The monsoon depression after crossing Odisha, especially south-southeast coast of Odisha, will move towards Chhattisgarh, suggests the INCOIS and Skymet models.

Districts like Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kalahandi and Nuapada to witness very heavy rainfall (up to 4cm) on July 2. Sundargarh will also record around 3-4 cm rainfall, whereas Khurda, Puri and Cuttack to record around 2-3 cm rainfall. Rest of the State to witness rainfall in the range of 1-2 cm. The rainfall will subside since July 3.

However, Puri is likely to witness rainfall on the world famous annual Rath Yatra day. The city may record a light rainfall of around 1 cm on the day, suggest met models.

As per the rainfall models, western, northern and north coastal regions of Odisha will witness heavy rainfall in the range of 3-4cm during the days of July 8, 9 and 10.

The June rainfall data district -wise reveals that Ganjam and Gajapati have witnessed the highest deficient rainfall in Odisha. Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Angul and Balasore followed them.