BHUBANESWAR: The southwest monsoon set in over Odisha on Wednesday, about 14 days before its official arrival date in the state. Usually, the monsoon arrives in Odisha around June 12.On the first day, the monsoon covered the entire Malkangiri and Koraput districts and some parts of Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, and Gajapati districts of Odisha, IMD sources said. The low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast on Tuesday intensified into a well-marked low pressure and is likely to intensify into a depression during the next 24 hours. The southwest monsoon is crucial for the rain-fed Kharif cultivation in the state. Last year, the monsoon arrived in the state on June 8.“The low-pressure area over the Odisha coast will trigger heavy rain in some parts of the state and will help in the advancement of the monsoon to other parts of Odisha in the next few days,” said Director of IMD’s Regional Center in Bhubaneswar, Manorama Mohanty.According to IMD’s forecast, heavy to very heavy is likely in districts like Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam on Wednesday, while other districts are likely to witness moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning activities. The rainfall activities are likely to continue across the state till June 1.On the long-range prediction of rainfall, Director General of IMD Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said Odisha is likely to witness above-normal rainfall, around 106%, in June and also during the rainy season between June and September this year.In the wake of the widespread rainfall forecast, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has asked all district collectors to stay alert for any eventualities. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the deep sea from Tuesday along and off Odisha coast till May 30.