Bhubaneswar: The regional center of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here issued a warning of rain or thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind at several places in coastal and interior Odisha on Sunday and Monday.
On Sunday, rain and thunderstorm are likely at isolated places in 21 districts. There is a hailstorm warning for Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Ganjam and Gajapati districts. All these activities are expected under the influence of a north-south trough line passing over the state and a western disturbance.
The Met has forecast that many places in Odisha are likely to witness rain for the next four days. The impact of westerly disturbance will be felt in Odisha from Sunday. Various districts of south and coastal Odisha will be affected due to the phenomenon.
The IMD has forecast rain accompanied by lightning in the southern and coastal districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Nayagarh and Puri. During this time, there will be rain with a wind speed of 30 to 40 km per hour.
However, the amount of rainfall will increase from March 27. A yellow warning has been issued to 11 coastal districts on March 27.
Light to moderate thunderstorms with lightning and light to moderate rain is likely to affect some parts of districts of Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Boudh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts during the afternoon on Sunday.
People have been advised to keep a watch on the weather and accordingly move to safer places to protect themselves from lightning strikes.
Another western disturbance is expected on March 30 but its possible impact over the state is not clear, the forecast said.
Meanwhile, the highest maximum temperature of 37.6°C was recorded at Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Sonepur, while the lowest minimum temperature of 17.5°C was recorded at Boudh in the plains of Odisha in the last 24 hours.
