Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued weather alerts for several districts in Odisha, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds on Monday evening. The warnings, released at 4:00 PM through a nowcast, highlight varying levels of severity across the affected regions.
An Orange alert has been issued for Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi districts, where a moderate thunderstorm with lightning and moderate rain is expected within the next three hours. Gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph are likely to cause minor damage to unsecured structures, banana trees, and standing crops, according to the IMD.
Meanwhile, a Yellow alert has been issued for Balangir, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Koraput, Rayagada, Angul, Boudh, and Gajapati districts. These areas are expected to experience light to moderate thunderstorms with lightning and light to moderate rain, accompanied by winds of 30-40 kmph.
The IMD has urged residents to stay vigilant, monitor weather updates, and seek shelter in safer locations to avoid risks from lightning strikes. Authorities advise taking precautions to minimize potential damage to property and crops.
