Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department on Saturday issued an Orange warning for several districts of Odisha, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, forecasting moderate thunderstorms with lightning, gusty winds and rain within the next three hours.
According to the nowcast issued by the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar at 4:10 PM, wind speeds of 40–60 kmph accompanied by moderate rainfall are likely to impact parts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Khordha (including Bhubaneswar city), Cuttack (including Cuttack city), Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Dhenkanal and Puri in the immediate three-hour window.
Residents in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, in particular, have been advised to remain alert, monitor weather conditions closely and be prepared to move to safer locations in case of sudden deterioration, especially due to lightning and strong winds.
Meanwhile, a Yellow warning has been sounded for districts including Keonjhar, Angul, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Balangir, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Ganjam, Nayagarh and Bargarh, where light thunderstorms with lightning or light rain may occur at isolated places during the same period.
The IMD has urged people across affected regions to exercise caution, avoid open areas during lightning activity and follow safety advisories.
