The southwest monsoon has finally arrived in south Odisha on Saturday, a day ahead of its onset predicted by the Met department. According to reports, the monsoon hit Malkangiri and some portions of adjoining Koraput district around noon, resulting in widespread rainfall in these areas, the Meteorological centre said.
Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Director Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu said the monsoon would cover entire Odisha in two days and rains would continue for six days in the State due to favourable conditions. From June 16, the monsoon rain would further strengthen in some parts of the State. Especially some places in south Odisha and interior pockets would get heavy to very heavy rainfall, he added.
“The Northern limit of Monsoon (NlM) now passes through latitude 20.5° North / longitude. 60° East, latitude 20.5° North /longitude 70° East of Valsad, Aurangabad, Chandrapur, Jagdalpur and Kalingapatnam and latitude. 20° North / longitude 89° East of Krishnanagar and Darjeeling,” a release issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar said. Bhubaneswar also witnessed rainfall in the afternoon on Saturday. The brief spell of rain along with thunder squalls changed the climate of the city which was reeling under an intense heat wave till two days ago.