Bhubaneswar: The regional office of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday predicted that a fresh western disturbance will hit Odisha on April 2. As a result, several places in the state are likely to witness thunderstorms, lightning and gusty wind.
Under the influence of anticipated middle and upper tropospheric westerly troughs and low-level north–south wind discontinuity/ trough, increased thunderstorm activity is expected around March 31. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is likely at one or two places in Nuapada, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Bolangir, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore districts on Thursday, the IMD forecast said.
Meanwhile, a yellow warning has been issued for rain along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty wind for 15 districts of Odisha. Some places in Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Angul, Sundergarh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts are likely to experience rain along with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty wind under the influence of the current active western disturbance on Thursday.
The IMD regional center has also issued a heavy rain warning for 11 districts for Friday. It has issued an orange warning to Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack and Kendrapada districts for Friday. Some places of the Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Dhenkanal and Cuttack will receive heavy rainfall up to 7-11 cm. However, there will be no large change in the day temperature during the next three to four days.
According to the extended weather forecast, two fresh active western disturbances (one from March 30 to April 2 and another from April 2 to April 4) and their associated induced cyclonic circulations are likely to trigger thunderstorms/hailstorms/lightning in eastern India during the week.
People have been advised to keep a watch on the weather and take safe shelter during thunderstorm activity. Harvesting of Rabi crops may also be regulated judicially, IMD said.
