With a cyclonic circulation all set to form over north Bay of Bengal, the State will receive more showers – and strong ones – as the monsoon current is likely to get a boost over the weekend.
The cyclonic circulation, which will form on Saturday, will trigger showers from Sunday though the intensity of rainfall will increase from Monday onwards, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.
As the system intensifies and changes its position, the rainfall footprints will also change, along with its severity.
The model predictions also indicate that the system, after it has intensified, will show a quirky movement. Against the general west-north-west movement, the system may move in a south-west direction which will ensure that the rainfall zone changes.
Initially, from July 26 onwards, showers are expected over northern, western and adjoining pockets of the State. This will continue for a couple of days before precipitation zone shifts to coastal, interior and southern Odisha.
“We will know about the system’s details in next 24 hours but its movement will not be normal,” Director, IMD, Odisha SC Sahu said.
The Agrometeorology Department of Odisha University of Agriculture Technology also echoed similar views. Its head SN Pashupalak’s monsoon bulletin said the centre of the low pressure is likely to remain over West Bengal on July 26 before shifting to Odisha with a movement southwards up to Paradip.
The low pressure is likely to intensify into a depression on July 28.
Under influence of low pressure, rainfall will start from July 26 but would limit mostly to northern and western regions till July 27. From July 28, the rainfall will occur over most parts of the State. It may continue up to July 31 in coastal areas and August 1 in western and southern districts. As a result, cloudy and wet conditions will prevail for a week, Pashupalak stated.
The IMD Director said the weather system will first trigger rains over the catchments of Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha and then over Brahmani and Baitarani rivers. If the system’s odd movement holds true, then it may induce showers over Mahanadi’s catchments too. Similar showers can not be ruled out over catchments of southern Odisha rivers.
Districts such as Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh would receive heavy rainfall with isolated places recording very heavy showers on July 26. Similarly, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Dhenkanal, Angul, Kandhamal and adjoining areas may get medium showers.
On July 27, western Odisha will get medium to rather heavy showers while undivided Kalahandi and Koraput will receive medium rainfall. Thereafter, most parts of the State will get rain till August starts.
Prasanta Patnaik