Bhubaneswar: While southwest monsoon is likely to advance into Odisha in the next 4-5 days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday warned of heavy rainfall in the State for two days starting June 11.
Heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Koraput, and Malkangiri on June 11; and Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati on June 12. Hot and humid conditions may prevail at isolated places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh till June 11.
Meanwhile, Odisha is bracing for an extended spell of pre-monsoon weather, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds expected to continue across the state till June 14, with no large change in the weather conditions during the subsequent two days, as a trough from a cyclonic circulation over East Uttar Pradesh and neighbourhood to North Coastal Andhra Pradesh persists over northeast Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
The MeT officer further stated that thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may continue in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh from June 10-14. The day temperature may also fall by 2-3 degrees across the state after 3 days, it added.
Similarly, a powerful Nor’wester tore through the twin cities on Monday, bringing heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds that uprooted hundreds of trees, crushed vehicles, and wrecked roadside shops. The intense squall triggered widespread power outages and major traffic gridlock across several Bhubaneswar neighbourhoods, including Nayapalli, Saheed Nagar, Unit-IV, Jaydev Vihar, Chandrasekharpur, Patia, Old Town, and Rasulgarh.
While the storm left a trail of destruction, it brought dramatic relief from the oppressive heat. Prior to the tempest, Bhubaneswar was sweltering at 40.7°C with humidity levels soaring up to 93%. The Nor’wester dragged temperatures down by a massive 17.6°C, leaving the mercury to settle at a cool 23°C.