Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department’s Meteorological Centre Bhubaneswar has on Monday issued an Orange Warning (Be Prepared to Take Action) for isolated severe thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail and gusty surface winds reaching 50-60 kmph over Mayurbhanj district during the next 24 hours.
A secondary alert under the same Orange category warns of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) at one or two places over Keonjhar, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur and Puri.
A Yellow Warning (Be Aware) has been sounded for thunderstorms with lightning and 30-40 kmph gusts across Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Bolangir, Boudh, Kalahandi and Kandhamal.
The alert comes hours after light to moderate rainfall lashed many places in North Interior Odisha and hailstorms were reported (as per media) at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Angul and Kandhamal districts. The chief rainfall amounts (in cm) recorded today include Muruda and Betanati (Mayurbhanj) — 5 cm each, followed by 3-4 cm in several other stations of Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, Keonjhar and Kandhamal.
Day-wise Forecast & Warnings (Valid from 0830 hrs IST)
Day 1 (till 0830 hrs 17 Mar): Light to moderate rain or thunderstorm very likely at a few places over 16 districts; isolated hail & strong winds only in Mayurbhanj (Orange).
Day 2 (17-18 Mar): Rain/thunderstorm confined to Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak and southern districts (Koraput, Malkangiri, etc.); Yellow Warning for gusty winds in five districts.
Day 3 & 4: Rain limited to northern and southern pockets; Yellow Warning only in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Gajapati.
Day 5: Widespread light to moderate rain/thunderstorm expected across most districts; Yellow Warning for gusty winds in seven districts.
Day 6-7: Rain only in North Odisha and a few southern pockets; no warnings.
No significant change in maximum temperatures is expected during the next 4-5 days, followed by a fall of 2-3°C. Today’s highest maximum was 38.2°C at Nuapada; lowest minimum 17.8°C at Keonjhar.
Squally weather with wind speed 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph and rough to very rough sea conditions are likely along and off the North Odisha coast on 16 March. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea today. No warnings for 17-20 March.
The IMD has urged people in warned districts to stay indoors during thunderstorms, secure loose objects and avoid open fields.
