Bhubaneswar: Though countdown begins for the onset of monsoon in Odisha and rainfall has occurred at a few places in north and coastal Odisha, the western region of the state continues to record temperature above 40 degrees Celsius.
Stating that the weather has been dry in south Odisha, an IMD bulletin said that at least seven places in western region experienced temperature above 40 degrees C. Hirakud was the hottest with 42.6 degrees C followed by Sambalpur (41.9 C), Bolangir (41.5 C), Sonepur (41.4 C), Jharsuguda (41.1 C), Bhawanipatna and Titlagarh (40.5 C each).
The state capital of Bhubaneswar recorded temperature at 31.5 degrees C, but humidity at 94 per cent caused unpleasant weather. The temperature significantly fell in coastal region as Cuttack recorded 31 degrees C and Baklasore 31.7 degrees C, met officials said.
"The maximum temperatures appreciably fell in south coastal Odisha and observed no large change in the rest of the state. They were appreciably above normal in interior Odisha and normal in coastal area," the Met office said.
Asked about the possible date of monsoon arrival in the state, IMD Regional Director S C Sahu said "we expect the monsoon to reach Odisha by June 16 and 17."
Meanwhile, the IMD report said that rainfall in different parts of coastal region brought down temeperature in many places. While Balasore recorded rainfall of 3 cm, Tiring in Mayurbhanj district, Chandbali in Bhadrak district,Rains in parts of Odisha.