Weather Alert / Monsoon Withdrawal Begins as Odisha Sees Seasonal Shift

Bhubaneswar, Oct 8: The retreat of the Southwest Monsoon has officially begun in Odisha, marking the seasonal transition towards drier weather.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday confirmed that the monsoon has further withdrawn from the remaining parts of Maharashtra, as well as some areas of Goa, Karnataka, Telangana, and Odisha.

The withdrawal also extended to additional regions of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

Also read: Bhubaneswar Sizzles at 35°C as Winter Delays

According to IMD, the current line of withdrawal passes through Supaul, Ranchi, Sundaragada, Baragada, Bijapur, Hyderabad, Belagavi, Panjim, and stretches down to 15°N/72°E.

This indicates that districts such as Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, and Baragada in Odisha have already witnessed the retreat of monsoon winds.

Meteorologists noted that conditions are becoming favourable for further withdrawal over the next three to four days.

Eastern India, the northern peninsula, and many parts of northeast India are expected to see the monsoon retreat, paving the way for clearer skies and a gradual decline in rainfall activity.

The withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon is a significant climatological event, signalling the end of the rainy season and the onset of autumn. For Odisha, this transition often brings a shift in agricultural activities, with farmers preparing for the rabi crop season.

Meanwhile, unseasonal October heat has unsettled Odisha, turning what is usually a mild transition month into a spell of scorching afternoons.

Bhubaneswar has seen temperatures climb past 35°C this week, nearly four degrees above normal, while Puri set a 130‑year record at 36.6°C earlier this week, the second‑highest October reading in its history.

By mid‑morning Wednesday, Puri registered 35.2°C, Bhubaneswar 34.4°C, Chandbali and Baleshwar 34.2°C, and Gopalpur 34°C.

Meteorologists point to the withdrawal of monsoon winds, inflow of dry air, and lack of active weather systems as the primary drivers of this unusual heatwave.