Monsoon likely to hit Odisha in June

Odisha, which is reeling under an intense heat wave, is likely to experience rains triggered by the south-west monsoon in the first week of June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

"With favourable conditions building up, there are chances of arrival of monsoon in the state earlier than the predicted date. The state may experience rain in the first week of June under the impact of monsoon," said Bhubaneswar meteorological centre director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

He, however, said the onset of monsoon in Odisha can be determined only after it hit Kerala.

The monsoon is likely to hit Kerala coast by May 30, the meteorological office forecast.

Even though the conditions for the onset of monsoon are favourable as understood from the model of formations over the Bay of Bengal, Sahu said heat wave conditions would prevail in Odisha till the end of this month.

Meanwhile, the meteorological centre on Monday forecast thundersquall in several districts of Odisha within the next 24 hours.

"Thundersquall accompanied by gusty surface wind at speed reaching 50-60 kmph likely to occur at one or two places over Koraput, Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, Deogarh, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi," the Met office said in a statement.

It said heat wave conditions are likely to prevail at one or two places over Balangir, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Khurda, Angul, Cuttack and Bhadrak.

Strong and gusty surface winds with speed reaching 35 to 45 kmph were likely to prevail along and off Odisha coast for which fishermen have been advised to be cautious while venturing into sea.

--IANS

cd/ruwa/dg