Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday forecast widespread rainfall activity across Odisha over the next seven days, issuing an Orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Kandhamal on Tuesday and in Kendrapada and Gajapati on Wednesday, while placing several other districts under Yellow warnings for thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and heavy rain.
According to the IMD’s midday weather bulletin, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely over all districts during the forecast period, with rainfall activity expected to intensify from July 14 to July 16. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 30-40 kmph are likely at isolated places across several districts during the next five days.
The weather office has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated places in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj on Monday. On Tuesday, heavy rainfall is likely over Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Kataka, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Rayagada and Nayagada, while Kandhamal has been placed under an Orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall. On Wednesday, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Kendrapada and Gajapati, with heavy rain also expected in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Ganjam.
The IMD warned that heavy rainfall could trigger localized flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas, traffic disruption, reduced visibility, minor damage to kutcha roads, landslides in vulnerable locations, damage to horticulture and standing crops, and possible riverine flooding in some catchments. It advised people to avoid waterlogged areas, follow traffic advisories and refrain from staying in vulnerable structures.
For the Odisha coast, the IMD warned of squally weather with wind speeds of 35-45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, from July 13 to July 17. Sea conditions are expected to remain moderate to rough during the period, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until July 17.
The bulletin said only light to very light rainfall was recorded at one or two places in Odisha during the previous 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Monday. Bhadrak recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature at 39.5 degrees Celsius, while Boudh registered the lowest minimum temperature at 20.2 degrees Celsius.
