Bhubaneswar, May 25: Koraput district has recorded its highest rainfall in 24 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty confirmed the development, noting that widespread showers are likely to continue across the state over the coming days.
“Light to moderate rainfall is expected at many places in Odisha over the next four to five days,” said Mohanty. She added that the southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala, and pre-monsoon showers are currently active in Odisha. A cyclonic circulation is also expected to form, intensifying the rainfall.
An orange alert has been issued for several districts, warning of heavy rainfall. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea on May 29 and 30 due to anticipated rough conditions along the Odisha coast.
Bhubaneswar received light rain on Saturday as pre-monsoon activity persisted across the state. The IMD has forecast continued light to moderate rainfall over the next few days, particularly in regions under the orange warning.
The southwest monsoon has also advanced further into parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea and parts of the Bay of Bengal. According to the IMD, monsoon conditions are favourable for further progression into Maharashtra (including Mumbai), Karnataka (including Bengaluru), Andhra Pradesh, and the remaining parts of Tamil Nadu within the next three days.
This year’s monsoon reached Kerala on May 24 — eight days ahead of its usual onset date of June 1, marking the earliest arrival since 2009. Early and favourable monsoon conditions are seen as a significant boost for monsoon-dependent agriculture and rural livelihoods.
Government investments in weather forecasting systems like the Monsoon Mission and high-performance computing infrastructure have paid off with improved forecasts, better crop planning, and enhanced disaster preparedness for farmers, livestock keepers, and fisherfolk.
