Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued red, orange and yellow weather alerts for several districts of Odisha, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, heavy rainfall and gusty winds of up to 70 kmph till June 4.
The weather office has placed Kandhamal and Gajapati districts under a red alert for June 1, forecasting severe thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hailstorms, heavy rain and strong surface winds reaching 60-70 kmph at isolated places.
According to the IMD’s midday weather bulletin, an orange warning has also been issued for Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Ganjam and Nayagarh districts on June 1. These districts are likely to experience thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 50-60 kmph during the afternoon and evening hours.
A yellow alert has been sounded for Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Koraput, Malkangiri, Puri and Khordha districts, where wind speeds may reach 40-50 kmph.
The IMD has forecast another spell of severe weather on June 2. Gajapati, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Kandhamal districts have been placed under an orange alert for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hailstorms, heavy rainfall and gusty winds of up to 70 kmph.
Meanwhile, Balasore, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Subarnapur, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Jajpur, Cuttack, Puri and Khurda districts are likely to witness thunderstorms and lightning with wind speeds of 40-50 kmph on June 2 and have been placed under a yellow warning.
The weather agency has also issued yellow alerts for June 3 and June 4 for Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Balasore, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh districts, where thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are expected.
The IMD has urged people to remain indoors during thunderstorms, avoid taking shelter under trees and stay away from electric poles and water bodies during lightning activity.
