Bhubaneswar: The Skymet Weather Services on Wednesday informed that Cyclone Phethai gave widespread rains across the East Coast, right from Andhra Pradesh to West Bengal. However, it was slightly different for Odisha, which not only recorded some good spell but saw heaviest rainy spells of the year.
According to the weather department, Cyclone Phethai gave moderate to heavy rains although it had weakened into a depression by the time it entered the state.
Odisha recorded 42.6 mm of rain on December 18 against the normal of mere 0.2 mm, which was 10000% excess rainfall for the day. As a result, Odisha which has been battling deficit rainfall to the tune of 15% till December 15 now stands rain surplus with a good margin of 22%.
Earlier, Cyclone Titli too had given some heavy rains over the state. On October 11, Odisha had recorded 33.6 mm of rains against the normal of 4.2 mm, resulting in surplus rains by 701%.
Although, Odisha did record 45 mm of rain on July 11 during the Monsoon season the normal average was high to 11, so the excess percentage was only 305%.
After the withdrawal of Monsoon, Odisha does not record much rains as it neither falls in the purview of Western Disturbance nor Northeast Monsoon. Thus, rainfall normal for the state is also very low.
The only time state records rainfall in the post-Monsoon season is when any cyclone approaches. In fact, the state is the most favourable pocket for the cyclones forming in Bay of Bengal, particularly during November and December. Irrespective of where they are headed to, these storms track through Odisha.
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With inputs from skymetweather.com.
Ms Kalinga