Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded a high alert for Odisha, warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds as a well-marked low pressure area over the northwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal persists and is expected to intensify into a depression.
According to the midday weather bulletin issued by IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar at 1400 hrs IST today, the system is likely to move westwards and cross the South Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coasts around the morning of September 27.
The bulletin highlights that light to moderate rain or thundershowers have already occurred at many places across Odisha in the past 24 hours.
Notable rainfall amounts include 6 cm in Lanjigarh (Kalahandi district), 5 cm each in Chandbali (Bhadrak) and Aul (Kendrapara), and 4 cm each in Binjharpur (Jajpur), Cuttack, and Mahanga (Cuttack).
Looking ahead, the forecast predicts widespread rain across the state for the next few days, with the most severe conditions expected in the coming 48 hours.
For Day 1 (valid until 0830 hrs IST on September 27), light to moderate rain or thundershowers are very likely at most places in Odisha. A Red Warning (Take Action) has been issued for scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph, in one or two places over Koraput, Malkangiri, and Kalahandi districts.
An Orange Warning (Be Prepared to Take Action) covers isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with similar wind and lightning conditions in districts like Nawarangpur, Nuapada, Bolangir, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara.
Yellow Warnings (Be Aware) are in place for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms with gusty winds in other areas, including Boudh, Sonepur, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.
On Day 2 (September 27 to 28), similar widespread rain is expected, with an Orange Warning for heavy to very heavy rain in Nawarangpur, and Yellow Warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms in southern and central districts like Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sonepur, Boudh, Bolangir, Kandhamal, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.
By Day 3 (September 28 to 29), rain will continue at many places in south Odisha and a few in the north, with Yellow Warnings for thunderstorms and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) in coastal and northern districts such as Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar.
Days 4 to 6 (September 29 to October 2) see lighter rain at a few places with no major warnings, but Day 7 (October 2 to 3) brings rain back to many places, with a Yellow Warning for heavy rain in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Bhadrak. The outlook for the subsequent three days (October 3 to 6) indicates no large change.
The IMD has outlined potential impacts in affected districts, including damage to plantations, horticulture, standing crops, unsecured structures, kutcha houses, power lines, roads, and embankments. There could also be uprooting of trees, flooding in low-lying areas, waterlogging in urban zones, reduced visibility, traffic disruptions, landslides, and interruptions to marine and inland water transport. Residents are advised to monitor weather updates, move to safer places if needed, suspend fishing operations, and take precautions like staying indoors, unplugging appliances, avoiding water bodies, and following traffic advisories.
Ports along the east coast and naval bases should implement necessary measures.
Fishermen along the Odisha coast face a stern advisory: Squally weather with winds of 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely along and off the coasts and in the north and central Bay of Bengal from September 26 to 28, with rough to very rough sea conditions. They are urged not to venture out during this period, with no warnings for September 29 and 30.
