As the final moisture-laden clouds of the Southwest Monsoon drifted away on October 15, India officially closed the chapter on its four-month rainy season.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the Southwest Monsoon has completely withdrawn from the entire country, including every district of Odisha, by the morning of the 15th.
Regional Meteorological Centre scientist Dr. Sanjeeb Dwibedi noted that the retreat from Odisha and the rest of the nation is now complete. This matches the normal withdrawal schedule, which typically finishes around October 15. Simultaneously, the Northeast Monsoon has set in over South India, beginning rainfall activity across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka, and Kerala and Mahe.
Temperatures across Odisha are expected to hold steady over the next seven days, with no major shifts in daytime highs or nighttime lows. Bargarh recorded the highest temperature at 35°C, while Phulbani saw the lowest at 19.5°C.
Residual rains continue in places. Southern coastal Odisha recorded light to moderate showers, with Digapahandi (Ganjam) and Odagaon (Nayagarh) getting 5 cm each and Krishnaprasad (Puri) receiving 4 cm. Scattered light rain was reported elsewhere as well.
Alerts are active for October 16, when light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely in parts of Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagarh. Some locations in Koraput may see heavy rain until the morning of the 18th. From October 18 to 22, dry weather is expected across most of the state. In Bhubaneswar and nearby areas, the next 24 hours may bring partly cloudy skies with isolated rain.
With the monsoon’s exit, conditions are becoming favourable for the gradual onset of winter. Nights and early mornings are likely to feel a light chill as the post-monsoon season settles in. The transition brings a welcome shift after months of rain, even as residual showers linger in a few pockets before clearer, cooler days take over.
