Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow warning for several districts of Odisha till July 17, predicting thunderstorm with lightning, gusty surface winds and heavy rainfall at isolated places across the state.
According to the IMD forecast for July 11, thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty surface winds with speed reaching up to 30-40 kmph is very likely at one or two places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Koraput districts.
The weather is expected to remain similar on July 12 and July 13, with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph likely at isolated places in Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts.
“Thunderstorm is accompanied with lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching upto 30-40 kmph) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj”, read the IMD’s prediction for July 12.
On July 14, IMD has predicted thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind over Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts. Along with this, heavy rainfall is also very likely at one or two places in these two northern districts. The conditions will continue on July 15 as well.
Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph is likely over Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Koraput. Heavy rainfall has also been forecast at isolated places in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts.
From July 16, the focus of the warning shifts more towards rainfall. Heavy rain is very likely at one or two places in Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts.
On July 17, heavy rainfall is again expected at isolated places in Bargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts, as per the IMD bulletin.
All the warnings have been issued under the ‘Be Aware’ category.The MeT department has advised people to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid taking shelter under trees and open areas, and to remain cautious while venturing out. Farmers have been asked to take necessary precautionary measures for standing crops. Residents of low-lying areas have also been urged to stay alert in view of possible waterlogging due to heavy rain. The IMD said it will continue to monitor the situation and issue further updates.
