Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a series of yellow warnings for thunderstorms, gusty winds, and heat wave conditions across several districts of Odisha, effective from April 17 to April 23, even as the state currently remains under no significant synoptic system.
While light to very light rainfall was recorded in isolated pockets of Angul, Nayagarh, Khurda, and Dhenkanal in the last 24 hours, the forecast indicates a shift towards more unstable weather. The highest maximum temperature of 42.0°C was recorded at Titilagarh, while Jagatsinghpur registered the lowest minimum temperature of 21.8°C.
The IMD has issued yellow warnings highlighting three primary threats over the coming days:
Beginning Day 1 (April 17), thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (30-50 kmph) are very likely in the afternoon or evening at isolated places. Intense squalls (40-50 kmph) are specifically warned for Mayurbhanj and Balasore on April 17. These conditions are expected to persist in several coastal and northern districts, including Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Puri, and Ganjam, through April 19.
From Day 3 (April 18-19), heat wave conditions are very likely to set in at isolated places over Bolangir, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur. This heat wave is forecast to continue on Day 4 (April 19-20) over the same districts.
Sultry weather is expected to prevail at isolated places over coastal districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati for five consecutive days from April 17 to April 21.
Rain or thunderstorm activity is predicted to gradually contract southward. After affecting northern and coastal districts until April 19, the precipitation is likely to shift to southern districts like Malkangiri, Koraput, and Rayagada from April 19 to April 23.
The IMD has forecast a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3°C over the next two days, followed by no large change for two days, and another rise of 2-3°C thereafter.
For Bhubaneswar, the forecast for the next 24 hours is a partly cloudy sky with a possibility of rain or thunderstorm, with maximum and minimum temperatures around 36°C and 28°C respectively.
The bulletin advises farmers caution against hot and humid conditions in the coastal districts over the next 24 hours.
