Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Warning (Be Prepared to Take Action) for several districts of Odisha on Friday, alerting people to the likelihood of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and strong gusty winds.
According to the IMD, thunderstorms with lightning and surface winds reaching 40-50 kmph are very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Gajapati on Friday.
A Yellow Warning (Be Aware) has also been issued for thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph at one or two places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nawrangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh.
On Saturday, the Orange Warning will continue with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph very likely at one or two places over Sonepur, Boudh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nawrangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh, while Yellow Warning will remain in force for the remaining districts.
Strong winds may cause damage to plantations, horticulture, and standing crops, minor damage to banana trees, breaking of tree branches leading to damage to power and communication lines, and minor damage to loose or unsecured structures. People are advised to keep a watch on the weather for worsening conditions and be ready to move to safer places if required.
They should stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, and avoid travel if possible. It is important not to take shelter under trees and to avoid lying on concrete floors or leaning against walls during thunderstorms.
Due to widespread thunderstorm and rain activity, day temperatures have come down across Odisha. Angul recorded the highest maximum temperature of 39.1 degrees Celsius, while Hirakud and Talcher recorded 39 degrees Celsius. Cuttack recorded 37.6 degrees Celsius and Bhubaneswar 37.2 degrees Celsius.
