Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued multiple heavy rain warnings for Odisha as a low-pressure area over West Jharkhand moved into northeast Madhya Pradesh. The system is likely to weaken over the next 24 hours but will continue to bring widespread rainfall and thunderstorms across several districts of the state until August 30.
At 8.30 am on Sunday, the low-pressure area was positioned over northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas, according to the IMD’s mid-day weather bulletin. The associated upper air cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level and tilts southwards with height — a typical structure that supports sustained rainfall activity. The system is expected to move west-northwestwards and gradually weaken thereafter.
In its mid-day bulletin, the IMD forecast heavy rainfall and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 30–40 kmph at isolated places across northern and coastal Odisha on August 25.
Districts likely to be affected on August 25: Heavy rain and thunderstorm with gusty winds: Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur. Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds: Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal
For August 26 and 27, the IMD has placed Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur under an Orange Warning, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms with gusty winds. Several other districts have been placed under Yellow Warning, including Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, and interior districts such as Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri, among others.
A Yellow Warning has also been issued for August 28 to 30, as moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to persist in parts of Odisha due to lingering moisture and atmospheric instability.
Residents in low-lying areas and flood-prone zones have been advised to stay alert and fishermen have been warned against venturing into rough seas.
