The southwest monsoon is poised to make a renewed advance across Odisha in the coming days, promising respite from the scorching temperatures that have gripped the state. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), significant rainfall activity is expected as the monsoon progresses further into various regions, accompanied by a noticeable drop in daytime temperatures.
Currently, maximum temperatures are forecasted to decrease by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius across many parts of Odisha within the next three to four days. This shift comes as a relief for residents who have been enduring hot and humid conditions, albeit without any heatwave warnings issued for the next six days.
The IMD attributes the delayed monsoon progress to the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) index being in phase-VII, which has impacted its advancement across the country. However, there is optimism as the MJO is anticipated to weaken in the upcoming days, paving the way for the southwest monsoon to cover more areas including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, coastal Andhra Pradesh, and parts of West Bengal and Bihar.
As of now, Nuapada recorded the highest temperature at 43 degrees Celsius, followed closely by Boudh at 42 degrees Celsius and Bhubaneswar at 40.8 degrees Celsius. The discomfort has been exacerbated by high humidity levels, with Bhubaneswar and Cuttack registering 64% and 73% humidity respectively on Sunday.
The IMD’s forecast indicates that the monsoon, having initially reached Odisha on June 8 but subsequently stalling, is set for a renewed push. This renewed monsoon activity brings prospects of cooler weather and widespread rainfall, signaling a shift in weather patterns that will likely bring relief to residents across the state in the coming days.