Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a low-pressure alert over eastern parts of the country including Odisha in the first week of August. As per latest reports, the rainfall intensity and the distribution is likely to increase over east India with isolated heavy to very heavy downpour from August 4 onwards as a result of a likely formation of a low-pressure area over north Bay of Bengal.
Detailing on the low-pressure area (LOPAR) formation, Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of the Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC), SOA informed that there would be widespread rainfall in Odisha between August 4 and 6.
The LOPAR is expected to develop next week in the north-west Bay of Bengal as conditions had become favourable for shifting of the monsoon trough from the foothills of the Himalayas towards the south, the CEC revealed.
The forecast suggests that the districts of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda and Kalahandi would receive heavy to very heavy precipitation during the same period, he added.
The formation is likely around August 3 over the north-west Bay of Bengal and its nearby region. It was likely to be strengthened by its merger with another low-pressure area which was moving from the South China Sea on August 4. This would subsequently lead to a decrease of pressure in north-west BoB.
Under its influence, the rainfall would increase in coastal Odisha from August 3 with a probability of heavy to very heavy rainfall on August 4 and 5.
Deficit Rainfall Touches 15%
Meanwhile, Odisha's monsoon rainfall deficit has touched 15 per cent. The State has so far recorded 562.3 mm of rain. Puri is the worst-hit district with 51% deficit rainfall followed by Khurda with 47% shortage. Jajpur and Kendrapara districts have also recorded 44% less rainfall this season.