Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning across various districts in Odisha from September 9 to 13, with potential impacts including flooding, structural damage, and disruptions to daily life.
The alert, issued by the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, highlights active monsoon conditions influencing the region’s weather patterns.
According to the press release, current meteorological features include a monsoon trough passing through Southeast Pakistan, Jodhpur, Deomali, Barabanki, Chapra, Purulia, Digha, and extending to the northeast Bay of Bengal. An upper air cyclonic circulation persists over South Odisha and north Coastal Andhra Pradesh, extending up to 4.5 km above mean sea level and tilting southwards. Additionally, a trough in westerlies at 1.5 km above mean sea level runs along Longitude 87°E north of Latitude 22°N.
The IMD has outlined colour-coded warnings for the next five days:
Day 1 (Valid until 0830 IST on September 10): Yellow warning for thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) in districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nawarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri.
Day 2 (September 10-11): Yellow warning for heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in Koraput, Malkangiri, Nawarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Sundargarh. Similar conditions without heavy rain are expected in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.
Day 3 (September 11-12): Orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in Malkangiri and Koraput. Yellow warning for heavy rain in Nawarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar, with thunderstorms and winds in other districts like Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.
Day 4 (September 12-13): Yellow warning for heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Rayagada, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Nawarangpur. Thunderstorms and winds are likely in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal.
Day 5 (September 13-14): Yellow warning for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, and Bargarh.
The press release emphasizes potential impacts in Malkangiri and Koraput, including damage to plantations, horticulture, standing crops, loose structures, kutcha houses, power and communication lines, roads, and embankments. Other risks involve uprooted trees, flooding in low-lying areas, reduced visibility, traffic disruptions, landslides, and interruptions to marine and inland water transport.
Recommended actions include monitoring weather updates, staying indoors during storms, avoiding travel, unplugging appliances, steering clear of water bodies and conductive objects, checking traffic advisories, and avoiding vulnerable structures or flood-prone areas.
Warning maps issued by the IMD illustrate the affected districts, with yellow indicating “be aware” for isolated thunderstorms and gusty winds, orange for “be prepared” in areas expecting very heavy rainfall, and specific icons for heavy rain and lightning risks.
Residents are urged to stay vigilant as the monsoon activity persists, with the IMD advising preparedness to mitigate risks from these weather events.
