Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued a Yellow Warning for thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds in several districts of Odisha, advising residents to remain alert over the next 48 hours.
According to the Midday Weather Bulletin issued by the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar at 1400 hrs IST on Monday, thunderstorms with lightning and wind speeds reaching 30–40 kmph are very likely to occur at isolated places over Sundergarh, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nawarangpur, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Ganjam, Gajapati and Bargarh districts till 8:30 am on February 24. A similar warning has been extended for parts of coastal and northern Odisha for the subsequent 24 hours ending February 25.
The IMD categorised the alert as “Yellow Warning (Be Aware)”, indicating the possibility of weather conditions that could cause localised disruption. Light rain or thunderstorm activity is expected at one or two places in the warned districts, while dry weather is likely to prevail over the remaining parts of the state.
The bulletin noted that a low-pressure area over the southwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal persisted over the same region as of 0830 hrs on Monday. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 5.8 km above mean sea level and is likely to move northeastwards while gradually weakening during the next 24 hours.
Dense fog was reported at one or two places in Bhadrak district, while shallow to moderate fog occurred in parts of Keonjhar, Balasore, Jajpur and Kendrapada. For the next 24 hours, shallow to moderate fog is likely during early morning hours in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Puri districts.
Temperature trends showed an appreciable rise in minimum temperatures by 2–3°C at isolated places. Night temperatures were markedly above normal by about 5°C in parts of interior Odisha and above normal by 2–4°C at several places. The highest maximum temperature of 36.6°C was recorded at Jharsuguda, while the lowest minimum temperature of 14.0°C was reported at Phulbani.
For Bhubaneswar and its neighbourhood, moderate fog is likely, with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 36°C and 21°C respectively over the next 24 hours.
The IMD forecast indicates that after February 25, dry weather is likely to prevail across Odisha up to March 2, with no large change in minimum temperatures during the next two days, followed by a gradual fall of 2–3°C over the subsequent three days.
No warning has been issued for fishermen along the Odisha coast for the next five days.
