Bhubaneswar: The southwest monsoon has advanced and covered the entire State of Odisha, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Tuesday. The monsoon, which had slowed down since June 15 after arriving in the State on June 12, gained momentum on June 22 following formation of a cyclonic circulation over central parts of north and adjoining central Bay of Bengal.
The rain-bearing system covered the entire state in a span of 11 days. The weather agency has forecast heavy rainfall in some districts of the State for 5 days under the influence of the systems. Warning has been issued for one or two places in the districts of Kataka, Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Nayagada on June 24, Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput and Malkangiri on June 25, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati on June 26, and Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam on June 27.
Light to moderate rain or thundershower may occur at several places in the state during this period. Squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph occasionally gusting to 60 kmph may also prevail along & off the Odisha coast on June 23-24.
The IMD has also warned of Thunderstorm activity in the state on June 24 and 25. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may continue at one or two places in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundargada, Jharsuguda, Bargada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada on June 24. Similar weather conditions with wind speed of 30-40 kmph may persist in Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Sonpur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on June 24.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may continue at one or two places in the districts of Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput and Malkangiri on June 25. Similar weather conditions with wind speed of 30-40 kmph may persist in Sonpur, Boudh, Nuapada, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.