Bhubaneswar: This monsoon season, Odisha has experienced substantial rainfall, recording an excess of 28% by the end of August, with no district reporting below-average precipitation.
Data from the India Meteorological Department indicates that the state accumulated a total of 1,100.2 mm of rainfall from June 1 to August 26, surpassing the seasonal norm of 856.7 mm for this timeframe.
Despite a slow start in June that resulted in a deficit, the monsoon gained strength in July and August. July saw an exceptional increase with 91% more rainfall than usual, while August continued this trend with 347.7 mm of rain, which is 16.4% above its monthly average of 298.6 mm. The heavy and consistent rains have caused repeated flood-like incidents in various northern districts, with Baleshwar experiencing its highest combined rainfall for July and August in nearly twenty years, totaling over 1,168 mm, according to the SRC.
District-specific data reveals that 22 districts recorded rainfall above normal levels by 20% or more:
- Large Excess Districts (+60% or more): Central and western regions recorded significant rainfall increases:
- Boudh: 1532.3 mm (+98%)
- Sonpur: 1546.0 mm (+70%)
- Baragada: 1504.9 mm (+65%)
- Baleshwar: 1383.0 mm (+61%)
- Excess Districts (+20% to +59%): A belt from northern to coastal Odisha showed increased monsoon activity:
- Kendujhar: 1337.0 mm (+58%)
- Kendrapada: 1236.7 mm (+55%)
- Dhenkanal: 1251.6 mm (+52%)
- Debagada: 1332.1 mm (+51%)
- Balangir: 1237.2 mm (+50%)
- Sambalpur: 1420.4 mm (+46%)
- Kataka: 1210.6 mm (+44%)
- Puri: 1033.3 mm (+42%)
- Mayurbhanj: 1253.5 mm (+39%)
- Bhadrak: 1083.3 mm (+38%)
- Jagatsinghpur: 1039.6 mm (+38%)
- Anugola (Angul): 1149.5 mm (+37%)
- Sundaragada: 1198.4 mm (+30%)
- Kandhamala: 1074.5 mm (+30%)
- Khordha: 1004.1 mm (+28%)
- Nayagada: 983.9 mm (+25%)
- Nuapada: 947.9 mm (+24%)
- Jajpur: 1105.8 mm (+22%)
- Normal Districts (-19% to +19%): Southern districts recorded steady, within-range seasonal totals:
- Jharsuguda: 1058.3 mm (+17%)
- Koraput: 931.0 mm (+1%)
- Rayagada: 720.1 mm (-1%)
- Ganjam: 566.5 mm (-9%)
- Malkangiri: 857.8 mm (-11%)
- Kalahandi: 926.7 mm (-13%)
- Nabarangpur: 865.3 mm (-16%)
- Gajapati: 534.3 mm (-16%)
In the last 24 hours, ending at 8:30 am on Wednesday, Odisha recorded 3.3 mm of rainfall against a normal of 10.9 mm, representing a 70% deficit. Malkangiri received the highest amount at 13 mm, followed by Puri with 12.1 mm and Khordha at 11.4 mm.
Looking ahead, Odisha is preparing for another round of heavy rain and thunderstorms as a cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal is anticipated to develop into a low-pressure area around August 28. An orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for Anugola, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj on August 29. Similar warnings are in effect for Sundaragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj on August 30; for Sundaragada, Anugola, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Balangir, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur on August 31; and for Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, and Kendujhar on September 1.
