South West monsoon further advances into Odisha, heavy rains expected

The south-west monsoon has further advanced into Odisha and heavy rains are expected in the next 24 hours in the state following a low pressure over Bay of Bengal off South Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh Coast.

"The system may concentrate into a depression in the next 24 hours found over west-central and adjoining north-west Bay of Bengal off South Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh Coast," A K Majhi, director in-charge of the IMD, Bhubaneswar, said.

The MeT officials have also forecasted rains and thundershowers in most places over Odisha due to the phenomenon.

Heavy to very heavy rains may occur at places over south and north Odisha in the next 24 hours, they said.

The department has also issued an advisory to the fishermen to not venture into the sea.

The MeT office said gusty surface wind speed from north- easterly direction reaching 45 to 50 kmph and touching 60 kmph may prevail along and off Odisha Coast.

In regard to advancement of the monsoon, the IMD said now it has covered the entire districts of Kendrapara, Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Nawarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri, most parts of Nuapada, Bhadrak and Nayagarh, some parts of Bolangir, Kandhamal, Cuttack, Balasore and Jajpur and few portions of Baragarh, Sonepur and Boudh.

The bulletin said the conditions are favourable for further advance of south-west monsoon into some more parts of Chattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal in the next 48 hours.