Bhubaneswar: Even as the southwest monsoon is expected to start withdrawing from the state next week, Odisha may witness spells of rain during Durga Puja, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has indicated a possible formation of an upper-air cyclonic circulation over north Andaman sea around Oct 12.The weather system could trigger a fresh low-pressure area over the region on the following day. It is then expected to move into the Bay of Bengal and intensify into a depression, potentially bringing widespread rainfall to parts of the state during the festive period, weather experts have said.In its extended-range forecast valid up to Oct 14, the IMD has said that there is also a low probability of cyclogenesis (formation of a depression) over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay of Bengal around Oct 15.The southwest monsoon withdrawal process is continuing over parts of the country and is expected to begin in Odisha next week, according to Sanjeev Dwivedi, a scientist at the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre. The state is likely to experience dry weather for the next two days, followed by light to moderate rain at isolated places in some districts over the subsequent three to four days.Dwivedi, however, says further confirmation about the possible formation of the weather system will emerge if it is reflected in the medium-range forecast.
