Bhubaneswar: With the month of July wrapping up yesterday, the cumulative precipitation amount in Odisha since the onset of Monsoon 2019 has ended in the deficient zone. The State has so far recorded 21 per cent deficient rainfall in the months of June and July.
Since the month of August is the last full-fledged Monsoon month, all eyes, therefore, are now on the rainfall amount this month in Odisha as July end has left as many as 17 districts in the State in the deficient bracket.
It seems August is not going to let down the State. The predictions paint a rosy picture as far as the precipitation amount in the State is concerned. The 73rd Independence Day in the State would witness light to moderate rainfall across the districts.
While the first fortnight of August in State will record excess rainfall, it's only the last week of the month when State may see a marginally deficient rainfall. The caveat here is IMD's prediction for the month of August is based on its numerical model.
As per IMD's numerical weather model, when the second week of August in Odisha will witness excess rainfall to the extent of 26 per cent, the State in the first week will record over 13 per cent excess rainfall. But the precipitation amount will see a drop in the fourth week of August. IMD model observations peg the August third week rainfall at around 2 per cent more but the precipitation amount is predicted to be one per cent less than normal in the last week.
Under the influence of a likely depression in north east Bay of Bengal, Odisha will witness intense rainfall activities on August 6, 7 and 8. Predictions by Skymet show the State as a whole recording around 70-80mm precipitation on August 7.
Significantly, overcast sky conditions have been forecast in many districts, apart from Bhubaneswar, on August 15. The predictions show Odisha will post an average rainfall of around 3cm on August 15. Only Bargarh and Sonepur will receive rainfall below 2cm.
The cumulative rainfall data for the period of June and July this Monsoon shows as many as 17 districts in the State have recorded deficient rainfall. Gajapati with 46 per deficient rainfall topped the dry districts in the State. Balasore with 43 per cent followed it.
Rainfall distribution region-wise in Odisha reveals that while most of the north-interior and north coastal parts have slipped into deficient category, two districts (Gajapati and Nayagarh) in south coastal and two (Rayagada & Nuapada) in south interior Odisha are in the deficient list.