Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre on Friday issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rainfall over several districts of Odisha over the next five days.
The monsoon trough currently extends across northwestern and central India through Sambalpur and Puri, stretching into the Bay of Bengal.
Light to moderate rainfall has already occurred at a few places in the state, with the highest rainfall of 4 cm reported at Turekela (Balangir district). Other areas including Bari (Jajpur), Nawarangpur, Kalinga (Kandhamal), Bargarh, Jaleswar (Balasore), and Rajkanika (Kendrapara) recorded 3 cm each.
Forecast and Warnings:
Day 1 (till Aug 30 morning): Light to moderate rain or thundershower at a few places. Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) likely at one or two places over Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.
Day 2 (Aug 30–31): Rainfall to intensify with many districts receiving showers; same thunderstorm warning continues.
Day 3 (Aug 31–Sept 1): Heavy rainfall warning issued for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Koraput, and Rayagada, along with thunderstorms in most districts including coastal Odisha, western Odisha, and southern belts.
Day 4 (Sept 1–2): Heavy rainfall forecast for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh, with widespread thunderstorms expected across the state.
Day 5 (Sept 2–3): Heavy rainfall likely at one or two places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Koraput, and Malkangiri, along with thunderstorms in most districts.
Day 6 (Sept 3–4): Heavy rainfall may occur at isolated places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh.
Day 7 (Sept 4–5): Light to moderate rain/thundershower likely at many places; no warning issued.
The IMD also issued a farmers’ advisory for the next 24 hours, cautioning them about thunderstorms with gusty winds in several districts. For Bhubaneswar and its neighbourhood, the forecast predicts a partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thundershower.
The IMD has urged citizens to remain alert during thunderstorm and lightning activity, avoid open fields, and follow weather updates.
