Weather warning! Lightning, rain predicted for Aug 16, 17 in 6 Odisha districts

Bhubaneswar: With no clouds being seen over Odisha, and the solar insolation for today being measured high at over 900 - 1100 watt per square metre, maximum temperature in State's many centres like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul and Ganjam districts are going to record higher day temperatures of around 35-37 degree Celsius today and tomorrow.

As the humidity in the aforesaid regions will be hovering around 60-80 per cent, around six districts in the State will witness lightning activities for today and tomorrow. Moderate rainfall spell is predicted for today in some places in Kandhmal also.

Moreover, an analysis of weather models of IMD, Skymet and INCOIS reveals that Odisha will be receiving fair amount of rainfall on August 18 and 19. The prediction is many places in Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Balasore are going to receive heavy rainfall on August 18, along with one or two places in Gajapati and Malkangiri districts. The coastal areas, however, may experience moderate rainfall on the said dates.

Significantly, the latest numerical weather model of IMD predicts good rainfall in Odisha from August last week to September 10. The predictions show the State is likely  to receive normal rainfall in the week starting from August 21, and the week from August 28 - September 3 is predicted to record nearly 19 per cent excess rain. The following week in September will record normal rainfall. Though the caveat here is the IMD model has not predicted district-wise rainfall proportion, therefore it cannot be said with certainty that the State is going to see even precipitation till mid September.

The latest rainfall data with IMD shows Odisha having recorded 736.9 mm rainfall till August 16 vis-a-vis of over 750mm average normal rainfall measured over the years, posted a deficit of meagre 3-4 per cent since June 1 this monsoon. But in met parlance, such a small deficit is considered as normal rainfall. However, the deficit on August 15 was around 76 per cent. The IMD data shows, against the measured normal rainfall of 12mm on August 15, this year the State has recorded mere 3mm rainfall, which puts the deficit at a high of 76 per cent.

Since the weather models of IMD predict good rainfall in coming weeks, it seems the State is likely to end the current Monsoon season with normal rainfall.