Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre has issued a special bulletin forecasting thunderstorm activity, lightning, gusty winds, hail, and heavy rainfall across various districts of Odisha from May 2 to May 6, 2025.
The IMD has urged residents to stay vigilant, take shelter during storms, and follow safety advisories to protect against lightning and potential urban traffic disruptions. Farmers are advised to regulate crop harvesting and use hail nets to safeguard vegetables and crops from hail damage.
Five-Day Weather Warning Details
Day 1: May 2, 2025 (Valid until 8:30 AM IST, May 3)
Yellow Warning (Be Aware):
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are likely in the afternoon/evening at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nawarangapur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bolangir, Bargarh, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, and Bhadrak.
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are expected at one or two places in Sonepur, Boudh, Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Jajpur.
Day 2: May 3, 2025 (8:30 AM IST, May 3 to 8:30 AM IST, May 4)
Orange Warning (Be Prepared to Take Action):
- Thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds (50-60 kmph), hailstorms, and heavy rainfall are very likely in the afternoon/evening at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
Yellow Warning (Be Aware):
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are likely at one or two places in Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Angul, Nayagarh, and Dhenkanal.
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are expected at one or two places in Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Puri, Khurda, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nawarangpur, and Malkangiri.
Day 3: May 4, 2025 (8:30 AM IST, May 4 to 8:30 AM IST, May 5)
Orange Warning (Be Prepared to Take Action):
- Thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds (50-60 kmph), and heavy rainfall are very likely in the afternoon/evening at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Gajapati.
Yellow Warning (Be Aware):
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (50-60 kmph) are likely at one or two places in Dhenkanal, Angul, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Kendrapada.
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are expected at one or two places in Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nawarangapur, Koraput, and Malkangiri.
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are likely at one or two places in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Rayagada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, and Keonjhar.
Day 4: May 5, 2025 (8:30 AM IST, May 5 to 8:30 AM IST, May 6)
Yellow Warning (Be Aware):
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are likely in the afternoon/evening at one or two places in Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, and Bhadrak.
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are expected at one or two places in Sundargarh, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, and Nayagarh.
Day 5: May 6, 2025 (8:30 AM IST, May 6 to 8:30 AM IST, May 7)
Yellow Warning (Be Aware):
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are likely in the afternoon/evening at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri.
- Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are expected at one or two places in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Nawarangapur, and Kalahandi.
Temperature Outlook
The IMD forecasts no significant change in maximum daytime temperatures over the next five days across Odisha. However, a rise of 2-3°C is expected thereafter in several districts.
Safety and Agricultural Advisories
The IMD has advised residents to closely monitor weather updates and seek safe shelter during thunderstorm activity to avoid lightning-related incidents. Urban commuters are urged to follow traffic advisories, as gusty winds and heavy rainfall may disrupt travel. Farmers are recommended to judiciously regulate crop harvesting and deploy hail nets to protect vegetables and crops from potential hail damage.