Southwest monsoon in Odisha; heavy rain in 48 hours forecast

The southwest monsoon has finally set in over some parts of Odisha and heavy rain is forecast in the next 24 hours in several areas of the coastal state, the IMD said on Monday.

"Southwest monsoon has set in over some parts of coastal districts like Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin said.

According to the Met department, southwest monsoon is likely to touch other parts of Odisha in the next 24 hours.

A depression formed over the Bay of Bengal had intensified into a deep depression, which is likely to trigger heavy rain coupled with gusty surface winds in several areas of Odisha in the 24 hours.

The system, which crossed Bangladesh coast near Khepupara, is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken into a depression during the next 12 hours, it said.

Heavy rain is likely to occur at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Angul and Jajpur districts in the next 24 hours.

Squally surface winds reaching speeds of 45-50 km per hour to 60 kmph are likely to prevail along and off the Odisha coast during the next 24 hours.

As sea condition will be rough to very rough along and off Odisha coast during the period, fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea, the IMD said.