The India Metrological Department (IMD) Regional Office here on Wednesday forecasted that southwest monsoon would hit some parts of coastal and northern Odisha within the next 48 hours.
“The temperature has come down in coastal and north Odisha on Wednesday, which is condition that favours the arrival of the monsoon. We are expecting that the monsoon will hit some parts of coastal and north Odisha in next 48 hours,” said IMD Regional Director Sarat Chandra Sahu .
Rainfall would be minimal or normal in the first monsoon shower, he said. However, some places of the State would receive heavy rainfall after June 20, Sahu added.
“The mercury in western Odisha districts will come down from Friday. However, those districts will receive monsoon rainfall after June 18,” he said.
An IMD release said the temperature has come down in almost all places in the coastal areas while western Odisha continued to sizzle under the heat wave on Wednesday.
Seven towns have recorded temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, with the State’s highest temperature of 42.6 degree being recorded at Hirakud. The temperature was 41.9 degree at Sambalpur, followed by 41.5 degree at Balangir, 41.4 degree at Sonepur, 41.1 degree at Jharsuguda and 40.5 degree at Bhawanipatna and Titilagarh, the release said. The capital recorded a temperature of 31.5 degree Celsius with humidity of 94 per cent, while Cuttack experienced cool weather with temperature of 31 degree.
On Thursday, the city would have partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thundershowers. The maximum temperature would be around 32 degree, IMD said.