Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a red warning for Sundaragada and Baragada districts of Odisha, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places, with extremely heavy downpour at isolated locations, during the next 24 hours. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph, with gusts up to 50 kmph, are also likely in these two districts, the IMD said in its midday bulletin.
An orange warning has been issued for Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Debagada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Nuapada and Balangir, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are also forecast in these districts.
The IMD has issued a yellow warning for Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghapur, Kataka, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nawarangpur, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada, warning of heavy rainfall at isolated places, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds.
The warnings are valid until 8.30 am on Friday, October 30.
The weather office has advised people to remain alert to deteriorating weather conditions, avoid unnecessary travel during thunderstorms and take shelter in safe buildings. It has cautioned against taking shelter under trees during lightning and advised people to stay away from water bodies.
Depression to weaken over north Chhattisgarh, adjoining Odisha
The depression, a remnant of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Arnab’, lay over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha at 8.30 am on Thursday, near latitude 19.4°N and longitude 81.9°E. It was located about 40 km north-northwest of Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, 180 km southwest of Titlagarh, 150 km west-southwest of Bhawanipatna and 310 km southwest of Sambalpur in Odisha.
The system moved nearly northwards at a speed of around 18 kmph during the preceding six hours. It is very likely to continue moving northwards and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over north Chhattisgarh and adjoining northwest Odisha by Thursday evening, the IMD said.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded at isolated places across several districts, while extremely heavy rainfall occurred at one or two places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamala and Boudh districts, according to observations recorded at 8.30 am.
Patrapur in Ganjam district recorded the highest rainfall at 55 cm, followed by Sorada in Ganjam (50 cm), G. Udayagiri in Kandhamala and Mahendragarh in Gajapati (46 cm each). Sankhemundi and Raikia recorded 39 cm each, while Chikiti received 31 cm and Mohana 30 cm.
The IMD warned that heavy rainfall could cause waterlogging in low-lying areas, traffic disruption, damage to vulnerable structures and standing crops, and landslides or mudslides in susceptible areas.
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at many places in north interior Odisha, a few places in south interior Odisha and isolated places in coastal Odisha on Friday. Thunderstorm activity accompanied by lightning and gusty winds is likely at isolated places in Sundaragada, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur.
For October 31, light to moderate rain is forecast at a few places over interior and south coastal Odisha and at isolated places over north coastal Odisha.
The IMD has also issued a yellow warning for heavy rainfall in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam on November 1. An orange warning has been issued for Malkangiri for November 2, when heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places. A yellow warning for heavy rain has also been issued for Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam that day.
In Bhubaneswar, the sky is likely to remain generally cloudy, with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers over the next 24 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 31°C and 23°C, respectively.
The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea over the northwest Bay of Bengal and along and off the Odisha coast until Thursday. Squally weather, with winds reaching 35-45 kmph and gusting to 55 kmph, and rough to very rough sea conditions were forecast until Thursday noon, improving gradually thereafter.
