Bhubaneswar: The regional center of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here has issued a yellow alert for heavy to very heavy rain in several parts of Odisha for the next four days as the monsoon has once again become active in the state under the influence of a cyclonic storm in and around Bangladesh.
The weather department has predicted light to moderate rain with lightning and thunderstorms in 13 districts of the state on Wednesday. According to the IMD, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, Boudh, Nayagarh, Khurdha, Kandhamal, and Ganjam are likely to receive light to moderate rain in spells today.
Five districts are likely to receive heavy rain (70 mm to 110 mm) today. However, it said that the major impact will be on August 18. Odisha is likely to get Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall on August 17 and 18, the IMD said.
A yellow warning has been issued for 20 districts in view of heavy to very heavy rainfall tomorrow. Some areas of Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts are likely to experience excessive rainfall, while others may receive 7 cm to 20 cm of rainfall.
As per the weather office, the average rain in Odisha has been 668.2 mm since the start of the monsoon season this year. However, the rainfall received so far this year is below the expected average rainfall of 737.1 mm. While 11 districts have experienced a scarcity of rain, 18 districts received normal rainfall.
