Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said the southwest monsoon has advanced further into parts of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Andaman region, while forecasting widespread rain and thunderstorm activity across Odisha over the next several days.
According to the Midday Weather Bulletin issued by the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon into additional parts of the southeast Arabian Sea, Comorin area and east-central Bay of Bengal during the next three to four days. The IMD has also predicted that the monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala on May 26, with a model error margin of plus or minus four days.
The weather office said light to moderate rainfall occurred at one or two places in Ganjam, Rayagada, Nayagarh and Mayurbhanj districts, while dry weather prevailed in the rest of Odisha. Sheragada, Madhabarida, Aska and Sankheimundi in Ganjam district each recorded 2 cm rainfall.
Boudh recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 42.9 degrees Celsius, while Rayagada registered the lowest minimum temperature at 22.6 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain or thunderstorms at one or two places in several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput and Malkangiri during the next 24 hours.