The active monsoon has brought persistent rainfall across Odisha, with some districts experiencing heavy to very heavy downpours. In the last 24 hours, Hatadihi in Keonjhar district recorded the highest rainfall at 12 cm. Several areas in Khordha, Angul, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, and Balangir districts also reported heavy to very heavy rainfall.
According to Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, similar weather conditions are expected to continue for the next 24 hours.
A low-pressure system is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal by July 24, intensifying rainfall across the state from July 23. The weather department has issued warnings for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts until July 26. The low-pressure system may further strengthen into a depression, potentially escalating the situation.
On Tuesday, a yellow warning has been issued for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Koraput and Malkangiri districts, while Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Nuapada, and Nabarangpur are also under a yellow alert. From Wednesday, rainfall intensity is expected to increase, with an orange warning issued for very heavy rainfall in Cuttack and Nayagarh districts. A yellow warning for heavy rainfall has been issued for Kendrapara, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Khordha, and Boudh districts.
The Regional Meteorological Centre has cautioned that rainfall will become more widespread from Thursday. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into deep sea on July 24 and 25 due to the anticipated rough weather conditions.
Since June 1, Odisha has recorded 503.9 mm of rainfall, which is 16% above the normal average of 434.1 mm. Sundargarh district has seen exceptionally high rainfall, while Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Koraput, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara have recorded above-normal rainfall. However, Nuapada, Balangir, Gajapati, Puri, and Ganjam districts have experienced deficient rainfall, with other districts recording normal levels, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre.
