2026 monsoon on its way to be wettest in Odisha since 2000

Strong winds and high tides were triggered by Cyclone Arnab in Puri on September 26, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI The 2026 monsoon appears to be exceptionally wet in Odisha, with the State receiving 1,453.1 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 25, 2026. This is already the second-highest monsoon rainfall recorded in Odisha since 2000.With five days left for the June-September monsoon season to end, 2026 could emerge as the wettest monsoon year since 2000 if the State receives more than the average 33.1 mm of rainfall during the remaining period.“As of September 25 of the current monsoon season, Odisha has already received 29% excess rainfall. During this monsoon, heavy rainfall was triggered by 11 weather systems, including low-pressure areas and depressions, that formed over the Bay of Bengal,” said Manorama Mohanty, Director of the India Meteorological Department’s Bhubaneswar centre.Odisha recorded its highest monsoon rainfall since 2000 in 2006, when the cumulative rainfall stood at 1,486.2 mm. This year, the rainfall has already touched 1,453.1 mm against the State’s normal monsoon rainfall of 1,125.7 mm.“Of the 11 atmospheric systems that brought rainfall, the current deep depression triggered the highest rainfall,” Ms. Mohanty said.Southern Odisha districts received heavy rainfall on Friday. Nabarangpur district recorded 231.9 mm of rainfall, against the normal of 3.4 mm for September 25. Koraput and Malkangiri districts recorded 203.7 mm and 146.2 mm, respectively, during the day.Heavy rainfall has disrupted normal life, with roads cut off, train services halted and several districts witnessing inundation. Low-lying bridges were submerged, snapping road communication between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh along National Highway-326. Swirling floodwater also entered houses in low-lying areas of Malkangiri district.Incessant rain over the past four days has sent rivers such as the Baitarani, Rushikulya and Jhanjabati into spate. The Baitarani was flowing above the danger mark at Akhuapada, triggering fears of another round of flooding in Bhadrak and Jajpur districts. (EOM) Published - September 26, 2026 05:00 am IST