Odisha Receives Surplus Rainfall, Heavy Rain Expected in Some Districts Until September 22

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert for Odisha, predicting heavy rainfall until September 22. A low-pressure system is currently situated over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining West Bengal-north Odisha coasts. It is expected to move northwestwards across Jharkhand over the next two days.

According to the latest bulletin, regions including Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, Boudh, Balangir, Sonepur, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) until 8.30 am on Thursday. Additionally, a yellow warning for heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Puri, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, and Nuapada.

On September 21, heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) is expected in Nuapada, Bargarh, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Deogarh districts. Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Boudh, Sonepur, and Angul may also witness heavy rain.

The IMD has cautioned residents about potential waterlogging in low-lying areas and underpasses, as well as the possibility of agricultural field inundation, damage to kutcha roads and houses, landslides/mudslides in vulnerable hilly areas, and reduced visibility causing traffic jams in urban areas during intense rain spells. Additionally, there may be a rise in the water levels of rivers in the state.

The intensity of rainfall is expected to decrease slightly thereafter. The IMD has issued a yellow warning for heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) in Malkangiri, Koraput, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda during the subsequent 24 hours (September 22). Although there is no heavy rain warning for the following day, light to moderate rain will persist in a few areas across the state.

Odisha has received 258 mm of rainfall in the last 20 days, which is 48% above the normal of 176.7 mm and surpasses the September monthly average of 235.7 mm. In the last 24 hours, the state has received an average rainfall of 21.6 mm, with the highest recorded at 168 mm in Koraput district.

This surplus rainfall has helped bridge the rain shortfall this monsoon season, with the state recording 1041.3 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 20, compared to the normal of 1091.1 mm. Among the districts, two have received excess rain, while 25 are within the normal range, and only three have recorded a rainfall shortfall.