Bhubaneswar: The regional office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here predicted on Thursday that Odisha may experience heavy rainfall from July 18 to 24 under the influence of a cyclonic storm in the northwest Bay of Bengal by July 16.
As per the weather office forecast, rainfall is likely to intensify across the state from July 18. The low pressure is likely to form between July 18 and 19. It will touch the Odisha coast after passing through Ganjam and Jagatsinghpur on July 21. This is likely to result in heavy to very heavy rainfall across Odisha from July 18 to July 24.
Meanwhile, the IMD has issued a yellow warning for heavy rains in six districts of the state – Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, in the next 24 hours. These districts may receive 7mm to 11 mm of rain during this period.
It may be noted that Odisha received deficit rainfall this monsoon. Till now, there has been a deficit rainfall of about 27 per cent of the expected average rainfall. The highest rainfall so far has been recorded at Devgarh, while Kalahandi has recorded the lowest.