Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has issued a detailed weather advisory, forecasting a period of widespread rainfall and thunderstorms across Odisha over the next week.
The bulletin, issued at 1:00 PM IST on Tuesday, highlights the development of a significant weather system over the Bay of Bengal.
According to the IMD, a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a “well-marked low pressure area” as of 8:30 AM today. The system, with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above sea level, is predicted to move west-northwestwards.
The weather system is expected to concentrate into a depression over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by Wednesday afternoon (October 22). Subsequently, it is likely to continue tracking towards the coasts of north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh, intensifying further over the following 24 hours.
The influence of this system is already being felt in the state. Several districts in South Odisha have experienced light to moderate rainfall in the last 24 hours, with Tikarpara (Angul) recording 6 cm, and Tangi (Khurda), Gania (Nayagarh), and Banki (Cuttack) each receiving 5 cm of rain.
In response, the IMD has issued a Yellow Warning (Be Aware) for multiple districts, effective from today.
Day 1 (Today until 8:30 AM, Oct 22): Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph are very likely at one or two places over districts including Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, and Cuttack. Shallow to moderate fog is also forecast for early morning in Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Sundargarh.
Day 2 & 3 (Oct 22-24): The yellow warning for thunderstorms with gusty winds will persist and expand to include more coastal and southern districts such as Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur.
Day 4 & 5 (Oct 24-26): The forecast predicts light to moderate rain at many places across the state. The yellow warning remains in effect for a large swathe of Odisha, including western and northern districts like Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Deogarh, and Mayurbhanj.
From Day 6 onwards, while widespread rain is still expected, the weather warnings are currently nil, indicating a potential decrease in the intensity of thunderstorm activity.
The special Farmers’ Weather Bulletin echoes the yellow warning, advising agricultural communities to take necessary precautions. Fishermen along the Odisha coast can, however, breathe a sigh of relief, as no warnings have been issued for the next five days.
The IMD has urged the public to stay updated via its official “Mausam,” “Meghdoot,” and “Damini” mobile applications for location-specific forecasts, agro-meteorological advisories, and lightning warnings.
Residents across the state, especially in the warned districts, are advised to stay indoors during thunderstorm activity and avoid taking shelter under trees or in isolated structures.
