Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued an Orange Warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall in four districts of Odisha over the next 24 hours while forecasting widespread rain and thunderstorms across the state through August 5, even as the Deep Depression responsible for the intense spell moved westwards into central Chhattisgarh.
According to the IMD’s midday weather bulletin, the Deep Depression, which had earlier crossed Odisha, lay centred over central parts of Chhattisgarh and adjoining north interior Odisha at 8.30 am on Wednesday. The system is expected to continue moving nearly westwards across Chhattisgarh and east Madhya Pradesh during the next 24 hours.
For the next 24 hours, the IMD has issued an Orange Warning for Nuapada, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Koraput districts, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places. A Yellow Warning for heavy rainfall has also been sounded for Bargarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Balangir, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are expected at most places across Odisha during the period.
From July 30 to August 2, the weather office has forecast light to moderate rain at many or a few places across the state, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 30-40 kmph over several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri.
The seven-day forecast indicates that heavy rainfall activity will persist over different parts of Odisha through August 5, with Yellow Warnings remaining in force for several districts on successive days. Kandhamal, Rayagada and Gajapati are likely to receive heavy rainfall on August 2, while Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Gajapati are expected to witness heavy rain on August 3. On August 4, heavy rainfall is likely over Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Keonjhar districts. The IMD said no large change in the prevailing weather pattern is expected during the subsequent three days.
The weather office warned that heavy rainfall could trigger localised flooding, waterlogging in low-lying urban areas, traffic disruption, reduced visibility, minor damage to kutcha roads, landslides in vulnerable locations and inundation of standing crops. It advised people to avoid waterlogged areas and vulnerable structures and to follow traffic advisories before travelling.
The IMD said the southwest monsoon remained vigorous over Odisha during the past 24 hours. Heavy to very heavy rainfall was recorded at isolated places across several districts, while extremely heavy rainfall occurred in parts of Bargarh, Balangir, Subarnapur, Keonjhar, Boudh and Angul districts. Bijepur in Bargarh district recorded the highest rainfall at 31 cm, followed by Agalpur and Salebhatta in Balangir district with 26 cm each.
For Bhubaneswar, the IMD has forecast a generally cloudy sky with the possibility of rain or thunderstorms over the next 24 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 32 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively. No warning has been issued for fishermen along the Odisha coast during the next five days.
