As per the recently released Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Atlas of India -2022 by IMD, Odisha has been ranked as the top state that is the most vulnerable state for lightning in the country. The State topped the lightning chart because a high of 20 districts is affected in the State. The State has only 30 districts.
'Lightning Map' Of Odisha
A glance at the IMD Atlas reveals that Sundargarh in Odisha tops the chart by virtue of having the highest number of lightning days in the country.
As per the report, the total number of lightning days annual during the Period from 1969 to 2019 in Sundargarh has been estimated at a whopping 508. It is followed by Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Cuttack and Ganjam. (see the below ).
Lightning Vs Thunderstorms
If the IMD's Atlas is to be believed, Odisha is the top state affected by lightning in the country. When it comes to thunderstorms, the top weather agency of the country didn't count any of the districts in the State as high to very highly vulnerable to thunderstorms.
As per the IMD report, nearly 60 districts and over 10 crore population in the country are vulnerable to this extreme weather event. But not a single Odisha district has made it into the highly vulnerable list of districts in the country.
The State Wise Tally Given Below.
Lightning Vs Thunderstorms
The country's top weather agency in its report has said the following.
Lightning: Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground or within the clouds themselves.
Thunderstorm: A thunderstorm is a type of storm with lightning and thunder.
The key takeaway, therefore, here is thunder and lightning accompanied by stormy wind are called thunderstorms, whereas lightning is a weather event that takes place without stormy wind.
Earlier, this year releasing it's Annual Climate Summary - 2021, IMD had said Odisha had massive 213 deaths due to lightning. In contrast, the State saw only 4 deaths due to the cyclonic storms in 2021. The State has topped the country in lightning deaths in 2021.
For this high toll in lightning, Odisha has been ranked second after Maharashtra in human toll due to natural disasters.
Director of IMD’s regional office Sarat Sahu on Friday informed that the southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of southeast Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands and entire south Andaman Sea.
Heavy rains lashed across South Andaman and Nicobar on Friday. The IMD had already forecasted that the monsoon will hit Kerala coast by May 29. However, as per the current weather condition Kerala is likely to receive rains in next 48 hours and it will reach Odisha by June 10.
The IMD has evaluated that the monsoon current is likely to be normal this year.
"There is an indication of rise in amount of rainfall from June 3 or 4. The probable date of arrival of monsoon in Odisha can be said only after monitoring the strength of the monsoon current after it touches Kerala. However, the normal date monsoon is likely to hit Odisha is June 10," said Sahu.
Director of the regional centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar SC Sahu said,"The well marked low pressure has concentrated into a depression, which was located around 370 km south-southeast of Puri."
He further said that the mild depression is likely to intensify into a deep depression and cross the Odisha coast between Puri and Chandbali by midnight today or tomorrow morning.
Under the impact of deep depression, rains and thundershowers are likely to occur at most places in coastal Odisha as well as in the interior parts of the state in the next 24 hours, the MeT office said.
This apart, there is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in some places of south Odisha and heavy rainfall at some places in the northern districts of the state.
“Strong and gusty surface winds, reaching up to 65 kmph, from the north-easterly direction would blow along the Odisha coast. Sea condition is likely to be rough to very rough and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea,” a release from the MeT office said.
As per the latest reports, the alert has been issued for Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Keonjhar, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal districts.
People in these districts have been advised to take shelter in safe places and avoid venturing out till 5.30 pm.
Some districts will also experience heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours, the met department stated in its release.
Meanwhile, the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre-Tropical Cyclones in New Delhi has issued a notification on the weather report and forecast for Odisha for the next seven days.
October 4- Heavy rain at isolated places very likely over Odisha.
October 5- Cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm.
October 6- Cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm.
October 7- Heavy rain at isolated places very likely over Odisha.
October 8- Cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm.
October 9- Generally cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm.
October 10- Generally cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm.
As per the latest bulletin of the met department, the alert has been issued for Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sonepur, Bargarh and Sundergarh districts.
People in these districts have been advised to take shelter in safe places and avoid venturing out till 11:30 am.
Some districts will also experience heavy rainfall in the next 24 hours, the met department stated in its release.
Also Read: Nandankanan’s lone zebra dies due to suspected lightning
The alert has been issued for Keonjhar, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput, Ganjam, Gajapati, Bargarh and Sonepur districts.
Satellite images of Doppler Weather Radar indicated thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rainfall are likely to occur at one or two places in these districts.
The alert has been sounded for the districts between 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm. People in these districts have been advised to take shelter in nearby buildings or other safe locations.
Heavy rainfall is likely to occur in one or two places in the coastal region of the state, IMD said forecasting that such situation may continue for three more days.
Meanwhile, sources in the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, said rainfall has occurred at a few places over Odisha.
Rainfall has been recorded in the districts of Nuapada, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Jajpur and Cuttack during past 24 hours.
According to sources, the districts likely to be hit by thunderstorm and lightning are Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati.
It has also cautioned the people in these 18 districts to take shelter in nearby buildings or other safe locations.
Meanwhile, Meteorological Centre here said, rainfall occurred at a few places in Odisha with heavy rainfall at one or two places in north coastal Odisha.
While Kantapada in Cuttack district recorded 80 mm rainfall, Jajpur recorded 60 mm, Jenapur in Jajpur district 50 mm, Tigiria in Cuttack district, Boden in Nawapara district and Jhorigam in Nawarangpur district have received 40 mm rainfall each during the last 24 hours.
The IMD Bhubaneswar has forecast heavy rain in north, interior and coastal parts of the state till July 20. The proportion of rain will come down after Thursday.
Official sources said, a low pressure area has formed over NorthWest Bay of Bengal off North Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal coast. The system is further likely to intensify into a depression.
Under its influence, heavy rainfall is likely to occur at few places in coastal and all parts of interior Odisha in the next 24 hours while South and adjoining coastal areas would experience very heavy rainfall till July 18.
Meanwhile, one person was killed while two others were injured after wall of a house collapsed in Gop block of Puri district on Sunday.
There are also reports of house collapse under heavy rainfall that lashed Bargarh town in the last 24 hours. Nearly 60 persons have been rehabilitated to safer places by the municipal corporation.
Due to heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas, the Hati river is in spate. One foot water is flowing over a bridge on the Hati river near Junagarh causing a halt in vehicular movement from Bhawanipatna to Jaipatna, Nabarangpur and Koraput.
On the other hand, vehicular traffic from Gunapur to Kashipur and T.Rampur has been affected as water is flowing at five feet over a bridge on Nagabali river near Gunapur.
Bhubaneswar: The heat wave condition returned to Odisha with rise in the mercury level today as Jharsuguda turned out to be the hottest plae in the state with 43 degrees Celsius.
The mercury hovered above 40 degrees Celsius in at least ten places, mostly in western Odisha.
After Jharsuguda, Balangir recorded a maximum temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius, followed by 42.2 degree Celsius in Hirakud and 42 degrees Celsius in Sundargarh, the meteorological centre here said.
Titlagarh recorded a maximum temperature of 41.8 degrees Celsius, while it was 41.5 degrees Celsius in Bhawanipatna and Sambalpur, 41.2 degree C in Malkangiri, 40.7 degree C at Angul and 40 degrees Celsius in Phulbani.
Also Read: Heat wave condition in western Odisha abates
The state capital of Bhubaneswar recorded 34.4 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature in neighbouring Cuttack city stood at 33.8 degrees C, it said.
Meanwhile, the MeT office predicted possibiilty of thunder squall accompanied by hail and rain at one or two places in the state in the next two days.
The Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, which has predicted torrid summer in Odisha especially during March and April, said the heat wave would be felt in most places in Odisha from tomorrow.
Also Read: IMD predicts rise in heat wave
“The temperature is likely to remain high between March 1 and 5. It is expected that temperature between March and May will either remain at par with the temperature recorded during the corresponding period last year or it may be higher than normal,” Director, Meteorological Centre, Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu told media persons here today..
Notably, after 1901 India experienced the hottest summer in 2016. Even in January this year, the temperature across the country was .67 degree Celsius above normal.
The IMD has informed that the temperature will remain normal for two to three days, but from March 2 there will be a surge in the temperature.
IMD local centre Director, Sarat Chandra Sahu, said, "Temperature will remain constant till February 28 or March 01, but there are chances of increase in the temperature from March 02 or 03. The temperature will remain proportionately same as the last 20 to 22 years."
Denizens of the Capital city have also started feeling the heat waves after which living without fan and AC has become difficult.
If we take a look at the temperature of Bhubaneswar in the month of February for last five years, in February 2013 the highest temperature recorded was 37 degree Celsius, in 2014 it was 37 degree, in 2015 it was 37.2 degree and in 2016 it was 40.9 degree.
All time record temperature was recorded in February 1963 that was 42.7 degree Celsius. And in the current year the highest temperature in February till date is recorded to be 37 degree Celsius.
A resident of Bhubaneswar was of the opinion, "Excess heat wave is felt due to which we have to keep water bottle with us while moving out along with umbrella and black goggles. The summer impact which we should have felt in March has begun from February."
As per a Met release here this evening, mercury shot up to 40 degree Celsius above in 18 places in the state with Sonepur remaining the hottest place with 45.4 degrees.
Other places which recorded 40 degrees and above are Balasore (41.2), Chandbali (44.2), Cuttack (43), Bhubaneswar (45.3), Angul (43.7), Jharsuguda (40.4), Keonjhar (40.4), Sambalpur (40.7), Sundergarh (42) Hirakud (41), Talcher (45.4), Bhawanipatna (43.2), Balangir (43), Phulbani (41), Titlagarh (42.5), Malkangiri (43.6) and Dhenkanal (43.2).
In the capital city, temperature went up sharply after 10 AM and reached 45.3 degrees. By noon, the normally busy thoroughfares in the city wore a deserted look while street vendors downed their shutters to escape from intense heat and humidity.
Talking to OTV, Director of Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu said temperature in interior Odisha would come down by 3-4 degrees Celsius due to overcast conditions and light rainfall in some parts of the region since last two days.
Referring to the rise in temperature in some parts of coastal Odisha since Wednesday, he said the wind flow which was from the south-west direction in the morning suddenly changed its course to the north-west direction by 10.30 AM resulting in the steep rise in the temperature.
“If the wind flow continues to be from the west and north-west direction, there would be a further rise in temperature in Bhubaneswar and other coastal pockets in Bhadrak, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, some parts of Puri district and the adjoining districts of Angul and Dhenkanal. Going by the model indicator, the Met department has sounded a severe heat wave warning in these districts for the next 3-4 days up to May 2,” Sahu informed.
He further said though there is indication of rainfall in these districts, the amount of rainfall would be minimal as the humidity level in the upper air is less than 40 percent.
Meanwhile, reports on death of 119 persons due sun-stroke have been received from different sources in the state of which death in nine cases has been confirmed to be due to sunstroke, a release by the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said.
The cyclone Gaja crossed the coast with a wind speed of about 110kmphA gusting up to 120 kmph.
The Tamil Nadu government said the fallen trees are being removed at the earliest.
According to IMD, scattered heavy rains is likely to occur over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala. Isolated rain is likely to occur over north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, north Kerala and and interiors of south Karnataka.
"The southwest monsoon has withdrawn from the state on Sunday. The state received normal rainfall this year," said Sarat Chandra Sahu, regional director of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.
Also read: Southwest monsoon covers whole of Odisha
He said the weather condition would be dry in the next few days and the clear sky would help further drop in night temperature.
Due to regular monsoon this year, the agricultural activities in the state were normal, he added.
The mercury hovered above 40 degree Celsius in at least 10 places in the state as entire western Odisha and many parts of southern region sizzled in the searing heat.
Balangir town in western Odisha recorded 42.8 degrees followed by Sonepur, Bhawanipatna and Malkangiri at 42.2 degrees, the met office said.
The maximum temperature in Bhubaneswar dropped to 36.4 degrees celsius from 40.4 degrees yesterday, while the mercury stood at 36.5 degrees in neighbouring Cuttack city, the met office said.
The heat wave has so far claimed one life in the state. A man died due to sunstroke in Bargarh district of western Odisha, according to the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).
The entire western region of Odisha sizzled under intense heat, the Meteorological office here said.
At least 13 places in the state recorded temperature above 40 degrees Celsius. Balangir recorded 43.8 degrees Celsius followed by Talcher, Hirakud and Bhawanipatna at 42.8 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperature stood at 42.7 degrees Celsius at Jharsuguda, while it was 42.6 degrees Celsius at Sambalpur and Keonjhargarh, 42.4 degrees Celsius at Sonepur, 42.1 degrees Celsius at Angul, 42 degrees Celsius at Malkangiri and 41 degrees Celsius at Sundargarh, the MeT centre said.
Bhubaneswar recorded 34.8 degrees Celsius, while it was 35.4 degrees Celsius at Cuttack.
"The activity is most likely to become widespread on April 27 and 28 with a possibility of isolated heavy thunderstorm activity, particularly over eastern part of Nepal," the Indian Meteorological Department said in a statement.
With similar forecast for Kathmandu, the department suggested people should take precautions against wet and bleak weather and possible landslides at vulnerable sites.
In India, the sub-Himalayan region, including West Bengal and Sikkim, will experience widespread rain and thundershower over the next three days with a possibility of isolated heavy thunderstorm, the Met Office said.
It also forecast scattered thunderstorms over Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
With immediate effect, ACS of Forest & Environment Department Suresh Chandra Mahapatra has been given the charge of Puri district while KBK Chief Administrator Sudarshan Pal Thakur will be looking into rescue and relief operations in Bhadrak district.
Principal Secretary of Industries Department, Sanjiv Chopra has been assigned to supervise Cuttack district and Director of Municipal Administration & Ex-officio Additional secretary of H&UD Department Sangramjit Nayak has been given the responsibility of Cuttack Municipal Corporation.
Similarly, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Higher Education Department Saswata Mishra and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Cooperation Department Krishan Kumar have been given the responsibilities of Jagatsinghpur and Khurda districts respectively.
Principal Secretary of Water Resources Department Pradeep Kumar Jena and Director of Estates & ex-officio Additional Secretary of GA & PG Department Hemanta Kumar Padhi has been assigned to supervise the situation in Kendrapara district.
Besides, RDC (CD), Cuttack Anil Kumar Samal will monitor the situation in Jajpur district. Deputy Secretary of Home Department Monisha Banerjee will be attached to the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).
Director (I/c), Special Project of P.R & D.W Department Prem Chandra Chaudhary and P.D (I/c) of DRDA, Koraput Md. Abdul Akhtar will look into the operations in Balasore district.
All the officials have been directed to reach their respective assigned districts and municipalities immediately by today evening.
As per the latest forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Fani is located at around 680 km South-Southwest of Puri and 430 km off Vishakhapatnam coast. The cyclone is moving towards Odisha at a speed of approximately 6 kmph. It is likely to move North-Northwestwards till May 1 noon and thereafter re-curve North-Northeastwards.
In the May 28 update of the real time drought watcher, the percentage of abnormally dry area increased to 42.61 per cent from a week before (May 21) when it was 42.18 per cent.
The increase is 0.45 per cent from April 28 when it was 42.16 per cent. The situation was little better on February 27 when 41.30 per cent area was abnormally dry.
The dry index has worsened over the last year as 36.74 per cent of the area in India was abnormally dry on May 28, 2018.
There is an increase in the area under 'severely dry' category from 15.93 per cent a week ago to 16.18 per cent on May 28.
Little less than 6 per cent of the area is under 'exceptionally dry' category.
Some of the worst affected areas are in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The area under exceptionally dry category went up from 0.68 per cent last year to 5.66 per cent this year.
The latest bulletin of the Central Water Commission on May 30 said that live storage of water in 91 reservoirs was 31.65 BCM which is 20 per cent of the capacity. However, the bulletin said that the overall storage situation was better than the same time last year.
All eyes are now on the monsoon. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in its second early forecast has claimed that it will be a normal monsoon but northwest India and northeast India are expected to have less than normal rains.
The Long Period Average (LPA) of 96 is expected for the whole country which is the bottom of the scale (96 to 104).
In northwest India, rainfall is expected to be 94 per cent and 91 per cent in the northeast. Rainfall is expected to be 100 per cent in central India and 97 per cent in peninsular India.
"The system currently is seen as a depression over the Southeast and East Central Arabian Sea and is centered at 11.2°N and 71°E, around 800 km South-Southwest of Mumbai," according to skymetweather.com
A deep depression is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm Vayu by Tuesday. "By that time it would be abeam Mumbai. With long sea travel, low vertical wind shear, and warm sea surface temperatures, the probable cyclone is further expected to gain strength and intensify into a severe cyclone storm," it added.
The cyclone is expected to be closest to the Saurashtra Coast by June 12 and between June 12 and June 14, the western-most parts of Saurashtra and Kutch region in Gujarat could witness squally winds and heavy to very heavy rains, MeT officials said.
"With likely cyclonic storm even intensifying into a severe cyclone, places like Jamnagar, Somnath, Porbander, Dwarka and Nailiya in Kutch" would be impacted, and could even herald pre-monsoons rain across Gujarat.
The cyclone might bring light showers to cities, like Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Rajkot, Veraval and Bhuj on June 12 and June 13.
According to an IMD advisory, the "Wind speed is very likely to increase further becoming gale wind speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph over east-central & adjoining northeast Arabian Sea. It is very likely to be 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over South Gujarat and Maharashtra Coasts" on June 12, while it could go up to 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph over north Arabian Sea on June 13.
"It is very likely to be 65-75 kmph gusting to 75 kmph over Gujarat coast; and 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph over north Maharashtra Coasts & northern parts of eastcentral Arabian Sea," the IMD added.
The meeting followed Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) prediction that cyclone Vayu is likely to hit the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval and Diu region on June 13 with a wind speed of 110-120 kmph that may touch up to 135 kmph.
The cyclone is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Gujarat. A storm surge of about 1-1.5 metre above the astronomical tides is likely to inundate the low-lying coastal areas of Kutch, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Porbandar, Junagarh, Diu, Gir Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts at the time of the landfall of the cyclonic storm.
The IMD has been issuing regular bulletins to the concerned authorities, said a Home Ministry statement.
Reviewing the preparedness of the state and Central agencies, Cabinet Secretary Sinha directed that people from vulnerable areas be moved to safer places, and essential food, drinking water and medicines be stocked.
"All possible measures are to be taken to avoid any human casualty and preparations be kept ready to restore any damage that may be caused to infrastructure. Rescue teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Coast Guard and Border Security Force (BSF) are also in readiness. The Ministry of Home Affairs is in continuous touch with the state governments and the Central agencies concerned," an official statement said.
NCMC will meet again to take stock of the situation, added the statement.
Singh also said the Indian Coast Guard, Navy, Army and the Air Force units have also been put on standby while aircraft and helicopters are carrying out aerial surveillance.
"Gujarat has evacuated about 3 lakh people and Diu has evacuated over 10,000 people from low-lying areas to safer places...(the) MHA is in continuous touch with state govts/UT and central agencies. The NDRF has pre-positioned 52 teams equipped with boats, tree-cutters, telecom equipments etc," Shah tweeted.
The home minister said cyclone Vayu is expected to cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Union Territory Diu and he "prays for the safety of the people".
An alert has been sounded in 10 districts of Gujarat as cyclone Vayu has turned "very severe" and its impact is expected to remain strong for 24 hours even after its landfall Thursday, officials said.
As many as 52 teams of the National Disaster Management Relief Force (NDRF), comprising around 45 rescuers each, have been moved to the state, while 10 columns of the Indian Army have been kept on standby.
Warships and aircraft of the Indian Navy have been kept on standby as well.
A general alert has been sounded across 10 district in Gujarat as wind speeds are likely to touch 170 km per hour, a Home Ministry official said.
Cyclone Vayu has turned into a "very severe" cyclone and it is expected that its impact will continue to be strong for 24 hours even after its landfall, the official said.
Normally, a cyclone becomes weak after its landfall.
Residents of some of the Gujarat districts have been asked to move out to safer places or cyclone shelter centres.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba Wednesday chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) where preparation for relief and rescue operations were discussed threadbare.
The NCMC meeting took stock of the precautionary measures taken by the Gujarat government and the Diu Union Territory administration with a view to ensure that no human life is lost, damage to vital infrastructure is minimised and to ensure early recovery of all essential services post-cyclone landfall.
Diving and rescue teams and relief material have been kept on standby for rendering assistance to civil authorities, as required, another official said.
Medical teams and facilities at the Indian Naval hospital in Mumbai are on standby to handle medical emergencies.
Both the administrations have also been advised for timely evacuation of people from the low-lying coastal and vulnerable areas.
The Gujarat and Diu administration are evacuating about three lakh people from the identified vulnerable areas and they are being shifted to around 700 cyclone and relief shelters.
IMD scientist Manorama Mohanty told the media here: "Cyclone Vayu will not hit Gujarat. It will pass nearby from Veraval, Porbander and Dwarka."
It is likely to move north-northwest and then north-westwards "skirting the Saurashtra coast", Mohanty said.
Pankaj Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, said that although the IMD has informed that the cyclone has changed its course, "it may still cause heavy winds and rains, and so we are still on stand-by mode".
Skymet Weather stated that the ‘Very Severe Cyclone' may weaken into a Category 1 Cyclonic Storm from Category 2, though the wind speed will be 135 km per hour to 145 km per hour gusting up to 175 km per hour.
Gujarat has, meanwhile, already evacuated nearly three lakh people and the Diu Union Territory, that touches the Saurashtra coast, have moved over 10,000 people to safety.
The very severe cyclonic storm will also reduce in intensity and turn into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday morning, a senior India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
"The system is moving nearly westwards affecting Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka districts with wind speed 50-60 kilometres per hour gusting to 70 kilometres per hour and Gir Somnath and Junagarh districts with wind speed 30-40 kilometres per hour gusting to 50 kilometres per hour. The wind speed over these districts is very likely to decrease gradually," the Cyclone Warning Division said in a 5.30 pm bulletin.
"The system is very likely to move nearly westwards during next 48 hours and recurve northeastwards thereafter," it added.
"Cyclone Vayu will again recurve. It is likely to hit the Kutch coast on June 17-18," Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary M Rajeevan told PTI.
By June 16, Vayu is likely to become a cyclonic storm with an expected wind speed of 80-90 kilometres per hour, he said.
The intensity of the cyclone is likely to reduce and it may hit the coast as a cyclonic storm or a deep depression, Rajeevan added.
He said the Gujarat government has been alerted about the possible recurvature of the cyclonic storm.
Cyclone Vayu was to hit the Gujarat coast on Thursday, but it changed course on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. It skirted the Gujarat coast, affecting Gir, Somnath, Diu, Junagarh and Porbandar.
As a precautionary measure, the state government has evacuated over two lakh people living along the coast.
The IMD has also predicted that rainfall will increase across the State from today; and tomorrow onwards, some parts of the State may receive heavy rainfall till July 2. Along with Odisha, a red alert has also been issued for Chhattisgarh which is also likely to be affected by the rainfall.
In view of a possible flood like situation due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Mahanadi river, the Odisha government has been alerted and asked to take adequate measures to deal with any kind of adverse situation. The districts which are most likely to be affected due to the heavy shower are Sonepur, Boudh and Angul.
Meanwhile, fishermen have been asked to refrain from venturing into the sea.
As per a press release, a low pressure area which has formed over Northeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood is likely to become more marked and concentrate into a depression during the next 48 hours. Under its impact, enhanced rainfall activity will be experienced over several districts of State.
Here’s the detailed weather forecast for the next three days:
June 30: Orange warning has been issued with heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast for one or two places over the districts of Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Kendrapara, Cuttack and Mayurbhanj.
Light to moderate thundershower likely to occur in most places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput and at some other places of north Odisha.
July 1: Red warning has been issued with heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places and extremely heavy rainfall (more than 20 cm) at one or two places likely to occur over the districts of Sambalpur, Angul, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh and Dhenkanal.
Orange warning has been issued for districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Kendrapara, Boudh, Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur which are likely to witness heavy rainfall.
July 2: Light to moderate thundershower likely to occur at most places with heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Bargarh, Nuapada, Bolangir and Sambalpur for which Yellow warning has been issued.
July 3: No warning has been issued but light to moderate rainfall has been predicted at many places of Odisha. Thereafter the intensity of rainfall will gradually decrease.
Wind speed reaching 40 to 50 km/hr likely to prevail over North Bay of Bengal and it’s neighbourhood during this period. In view of the inclement weather, fishermen have been cautioned not to venture into the sea during the period.
Meanwhile, the weather dept today issued thunderstorm and rainfall alert for 14 districts of the State including Sundergarh, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Jharsuguda, Nayagarh, Khurda and Cuttack till 7:30 PM today.
Cold wave conditions are likely to prevail in parts of Angul, Balasore, Sonepur, Jharsuguda, Bolangir and Sambalpur districts, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin.
Dense fog is likely to envelop parts of Sonepur, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts for 24 hours from 8.30 am on Monday, an IMD official said.
Mercury levels dipped in several areas of Odisha on Monday and are likely to go down further by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius in the next 3-4 days, the weatherman said.
At 9 degrees Celsius, Angul recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the plains of the state while Malkangiri was the hottest at 30 degrees Celsius, he said.
Minimum temperatures in north Odisha and south coastal Odisha were appreciably below normal and in south interior Odisha, they were just below normal, the weatherman said.
Apart from Angul, hill station Daringbadi also recorded a minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius followed by Jharsuguda at 9.6 degrees Celsius, he said.
Bhubaneswar recorded the minimum temperature of 14 degrees Celsius, he added.
(PTI)
Briefing on the onset in Odisha, Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Secretary of Ministry of Earth Sciences said, "The onset of South West Monsoon is likely to delay by 3 to 4 days in case of Odisha. In spite of its normal date of arrival on June 9/10, the monsoon may touch the State by June 13."
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Quantitatively, the monsoon seasonal (June to September) rainfall is likely to be 100 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of ± 5 per cent. The LPA of the season rainfall over the country as a whole for the period 1961-2010 is 88 cm.
"This year, we will have a normal monsoon. Quantitatively the monsoon rainfall during the monsoon season 2020 is expected to be 100% of its long period average with an error of plus or minus 5 due to model error," said Rajeevan.
"For normal monsoon, which is defined between 96%-104%, the forecast probability is 41%. So there is a high probability that the monsoon is likely to be normal. For monsoon above normal (104%-110%) of the long-period average, the forecast probability is 21% and for excess monsoon, which is more than 110% of LPA, the probability is 9%. Similarly, for below-normal monsoon (90%-96%), the forecast probability is 20%. The good news is for deficient monsoon, our forecast is 9%," the official explained.
Our model suggests that the prevalent neutral condition of El Nino–Southern Oscillation in Pacific Ocean & Indian Ocean Dipole will continue to remain neutral during #monsoon & help India witness a normal #Monsoon2020: IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra (Video - ANI) pic.twitter.com/3c7dMQ6woK
— OTV (@otvnews) April 15, 2020
As per IMD forecast, Neutral El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions are prevailing over the Pacific Ocean and Neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions are prevailing over the Indian Ocean. Some climate model forecasts indicate these conditions are likely to persist during the ensuing monsoon season.
However, a few other global climate models indicate the possibility of development of weak La Nina conditions over the Pacific Ocean during the second half of the season.
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As sea surface temperature (SST) conditions over the Pacific and Indian Oceans are known to have a strong influence on Indian monsoon, IMD is monitoring the evolution of sea surface conditions over the Pacific and the Indian oceans.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted a normal southwest #monsoon for the country this year. Here's the detail long-range forecast of the monsoon pic.twitter.com/OJHqgGcjYG
— OTV (@otvnews) April 15, 2020
Sunitha Devi, in charge of cyclones at IMD, said, "A low pressure area has formed over southeast and adjoining east central Arabian sea and Lakshadweep area. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 24 hours and intensify further into a cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours."
She added, "It is likely to move nearly northwards and reach near north Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts by 3rd June."
A low pressure area and a depression are the first two levels on the IMD's eight-category scale used to classify cyclones based on their intensity.
The weather bureau said that the sea condition will be very rough and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea till June 4.
A low pressure area formed over Southeast & adjoining East-central Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep area. To concentrate into a Depression over East-central and adjoining Southeast Arabian Sea during next 24 hours & into a Cyclonic Storm during the subsequent 24 hours: IMD pic.twitter.com/Ia05VoFwxV
— OTV (@otvnews) May 31, 2020
It has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over south coastal Maharashtra for June 2-4, on north coast on June 2-3 and in Gujarat, Daman and Diu and Dadar and Nagar Haveli on June 3-5.
IMD said that under the influence of likely formation of a low pressure system over Arabian Sea, conditions will become favourable from June 1 for onset of monsoon over Kerala.
The arrival date for monsoon in Kerala is around June 1 every year and in Maharashtra around June 10.
On Saturday, a private forecasting agency claimed that monsoon has already hit Kerala, but the assertions were quickly rebutted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
"The news about monsoon onset over Kerala in Social Media is not correct. Monsoon has not arrived over Kerala. The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge a"Stephen Hawking," saidAMadhavan Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of IMD's Regional Weather Forecasting Centre said that the formation of a low pressure system in Arabian sea and its movement towards Gujarat coast will bring moisture to Delhi-NCR and North West India from June 3.
Two storms are forming over the Arabian Sea, one lies off the African coast and is likely to move over Oman and Yemen, while the other is placed close to India.
The development comes almost ten days after 'Amphan' pummeled four districts of Bengal in the fiercest cyclone in the region in a century, that left 86 people dead and rendered ten million people homeless.
(IANS)
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Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said that eight major rivers flowing down from neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, including the Brahmaputra, are in spate.
According to the Forest Department officials at least 127 wild animals have died in floods and 157 rescued even as over 90 per cent of the 430 sq km, world-famous Kaziranga National Park, home to more than 2,200 one-horned Indian rhinos, remained flooded.
The animals that have perished in the annual deluge include 13 rhinos, 94 hog deer, eight wild boars, five wild buffaloes, three porcupines and two swamp deer.
The official said that not only Kaziranga National Park, located on edge of the eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots of Golaghat and Nagaon districts, the Manas, R.G. Orang and Tinsukia national parks, the Pabitora and Tinsukia wildlife sanctuaries were also affected and many wild animals have perished.
As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Assam has recorded 17 per cent excess rainfall so far since June 1, when the four-month-long monsoon season started. Since June 1 and till Saturday, Assam recorded 929.5 mm rainfall against the normal 792.3 mm.
According to the ASDMA officials of the state's 26.37 lakh people currently affected, around 18 lakh are only in the state's five western districts -- Goalpara (470,253), Barpeta (423,656), Morigaon (375,250), Dhubri (278,841) and South Salmara (249,423).
The floods had claimed at least 97 lives so far in Kokrajhar, Kamrup (Metro), Baksa, South Salmara, Darrang, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Kamrup, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Morigaon, Dhubri, Nagaon, Nalbari, Barpeta, Dhemaji, Udalguri, Goalpara and Dibrugarh districts, while 26 others were killed in separate landslides since May 22.
The swollen Brahmaputra has been flowing above the danger mark in a large number of places in five districts, as many as seven more rivers -- Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Kopili, Dharamtul, Beki, Kushiyara, Sankosh -- are flowing above the danger mark in a large number of places in seven districts.
The monsoon floods, triggered by heavy rains, have inundated 2,370 villages and also affected 116,939 hectares of crop area in 27 districts and damaged hundreds of houses partially and completely.
The district administrations have set up around 564 relief camps and distribution centres in 27 districts, where around 48,000 people have taken shelter.
Of the 27 affected districts, 15 -- Dhubri, Goalpara, Barpeta, Morigaon, South Sakmara, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Darrang, Nalbari, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural), Nagaon, Golaghat, Majuli, Bongaigaon -- are the worst-hit.
Besides erosion of river banks at a large number of places, roads, embankments, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure were damaged at many locations in 24 districts, the officials said, adding that hundred of houses were fully or partially damaged due to the floods.
Around 14 lakh domesticated animals and over 8 lakh poultry birds were affected.
A total of 16 National Disaster Response Force teams and many teams of State Disaster Response Force, along with the local administration, are continuously working to rescue affected people and render relief services, including distribution of necessary material to the marooned villagers.
(IANS)
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Districts with Red, Orange and Yellow warnings have been ordered to remain prepared to meet any waterlogging/ localised flood-like situation. BDOs and Tehsildars have also been put on alert to check disruption of road communication due to landslides. As per the order, dewatering should be taken up wherever required including urban areas. The ODRAF and State Fire Services have been kept on alert too.
A message from the SRC read, “Under influence of the cyclonic circulation over north-east Bay-of-Bengal, a low pressure area formed today morning over North Bay-of-Bengal & neighbourhood, which now lies as a well-marked low pressure area, with associated cyclonic circulation extending upto 7.6 km above mean sea level. It is very likely to move westward and concentrate into a depression during next 24 hours.”
Day -1 (Valid up to 0830 hrs of 20.08.2020).
Red warning for Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Jagatsingpur, Cuttack and Angul
Orange warning issued for the districts of Keonjhar, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Puri, Khurda, Malkangiri and Koraput as heavy to very heavy rainfall may likely occur at one or two places over these districts.
Yellow warning for heavy rainfall at isolated places over the rest districts of Odisha.
Day-2 (0830 hrs of 20.08.2020 up to 0830 hrs of 21.08.2020)
Orange warning: Heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Bargarh, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Keonjhar and Angul.
Yellow Warning : Heavy rainfall very likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapada and Boudh.
Day 3: No warning was issued
The fishermen have also been advised by the SRC to not venture into sea along and off Odisha coast during next 48 hours.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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