Bhubaneswar, Oct 16: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday announced the complete withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon from the entire country on October 16, 2025.

Northeast Monsoon Sets In

According to the IMD, the southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24—earlier than usual—and covered the entire nation by June 29, nine days ahead of the typical July 8 timeline. The withdrawal began from northwest India on September 17 and concluded on October 16.

At the same time, the northeast monsoon has set in over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, south interior Karnataka and Kerala-Mahe.

Near-Normal Rainfall

Odisha recorded near-normal rainfall during the monsoon season. Between June 1 and September 30, the state received 1150.9 mm of rainfall against the normal 1150.2 mm. Koraput district topped the charts with 1586.1 mm. While districts like Puri, Khordha, and Kalahandi saw below-average rainfall, six districts—including Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, and Koraput—received above-normal precipitation. The remaining 21 districts recorded normal rainfall during the monsoon.

Fresh Low Pressure Likely

The weathermen predicted a new low-pressure system forming over the southern Bay of Bengal around October 24, which may move northwestward direction towards the coasts of Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh. This may influence rainfall patterns in Odisha during the post-monsoon season.

Also Read: Odisha Plans Strategy To Prevent Human Causalities Due To Landslides

Wet Winter Ahead

Due to the La Niña effect, Odisha may experience warmer nights and less perceptible cold during the upcoming winter. Experts forecast above-normal rainfall from October to December, driven by residual monsoon dynamics and emerging low-pressure zones.

Yellow Alert For Rayagada

Meanwhile, the IMD forecast light to moderate rain or thunderstorms at isolated locations in Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Rayagada districts during the next 24 hours. A yellow warning has been issued for Rayagada, where thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) are likely, the IMD predicted.