Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued an orange warning for six districts of Odisha, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Boudh during the next 24 hours. A yellow warning has also been issued for 11 districts, while thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of up to 30-40 kmph are likely at one or two places across several parts of the state.
The IMD said light to moderate rain or thundershower is very likely at many places over all districts of Odisha during the period. The weather system is being influenced by a low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining areas of Jharkhand and north Odisha, with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level. The system is likely to move nearly northwestwards across Jharkhand and north Odisha during the next 24 hours.
The yellow warning for heavy rainfall covers Angul, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri, while thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are likely in a much wider area of the state.
The weather office said the southwest monsoon remained vigorous over Odisha, with moderate rainfall recorded at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places in several districts. Joda in Keonjhar recorded the highest rainfall of 17 cm, followed by Papadahandi in Nabarangpur with 16 cm, and Paikmal in Bargarh and Kusumi in Mayurbhanj with 12 cm each.
The IMD forecast light to moderate rain or thundershower at a few places across Odisha on August 25 and 26, with yellow warnings for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds.
For August 27 and 28, rain is likely at many places, with heavy rainfall expected at one or two places in Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.
The weather office has further issued an orange warning for August 30, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places in Balasore and Mayurbhanj. Heavy rainfall is also likely at one or two places in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur.
The IMD cautioned that heavy rainfall could lead to localised flooding, waterlogging in low-lying areas, closure of underpasses, traffic disruption, reduced visibility, damage to vulnerable structures and crops, and landslides in susceptible areas. It advised people to monitor weather conditions, follow traffic advisories and avoid waterlogged areas and vulnerable structures.
For Bhubaneswar and adjoining areas, the IMD forecast generally cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain or thunderstorm during the next 24 hours, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to remain around 32°C and 25°C respectively.
The weather office has also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast till August 24, as squally weather with winds of 35-45 kmph and occasional gusts up to 55 kmph, along with rough to very rough sea conditions, are expected.
