Bhubaneswar, Aug 20: Odisha has crossed the 1,000 mm mark in cumulative monsoon rainfall this year, recording a 28 per cent surplus over normal rainfall between June 1 and August 19, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The state received 1,006.5 mm of rainfall during the period, compared with the normal rainfall of 786.5 mm, resulting in a surplus of around 220 mm.
The above-normal rainfall has been recorded across much of the state, with 14 districts receiving excess rainfall between 20 and 59 per cent above their respective normal levels.
Sambalpur recorded 1,325.6 mm of rainfall, followed by Mayurbhanj at 1,174.4 mm, Cuttack at 1,145.1 mm, Puri at 945 mm and Khordha at 912.9 mm.
Seven districts recorded large excess rainfall of 60 per cent or more. Boudh registered the highest departure from normal at 106 per cent, with 1,469.9 mm of rainfall. Sonepur received 1,495.1 mm, 80 per cent above normal, while Bargarh recorded 1,438.7 mm, marking a 72 per cent surplus.
Kendujhar, Dhenkanal, Balasore and Kendrapada were among the other districts in the large-excess category.
However, rainfall distribution has remained uneven. Five districts recorded rainfall within the normal range, while five others reported deficient rainfall.
Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada and Kandhamal were among the districts with normal rainfall. Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Gajapati were among those that recorded deficient rainfall. No district has so far been classified as receiving large deficient rainfall.
The overall surplus has been linked to active monsoon systems over the Bay of Bengal, which have brought widespread rainfall to different parts of Odisha.
The strong rainfall performance is significant for agriculture and water resources, as the monsoon remains crucial for crop cultivation, reservoir levels and groundwater recharge across the state.
With the monsoon season continuing, weather conditions over the coming weeks will determine whether Odisha maintains its surplus rainfall position and how rainfall is distributed across the remaining districts.
