Bhubaneswar: Conditions have become favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon into parts of Odisha during the next three to four days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday while forecasting an increase in rainfall and thunderstorm activity across the state.
According to the midday weather bulletin issued by the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, light to moderate rain or thunderstorms were reported at isolated places in Odisha during the past 24 hours. Ambabhona in Bargarh district recorded the highest rainfall of 4 cm, followed by Barpali with 3 cm.
The IMD said the northern limit of the monsoon currently passes through parts of peninsular and eastern India, and atmospheric conditions are conducive for its further advance into Odisha and neighbouring states over the coming days.
For the next 24 hours, the weather office has issued an Orange Warning for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Boudh, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh districts, where thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 50-60 kmph are likely at isolated places.
A Yellow Warning has been issued for several other districts, including Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sonepur, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam, where thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 40-50 kmph are likely during afternoon and evening hours. Hot and humid conditions may also prevail in isolated coastal and adjoining districts.
Rainfall activity is expected to intensify from June 11, with light to moderate rain or thunderstorms likely at many places across the state. The IMD has issued an Orange Warning for Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Malkangiri districts on June 11-12, forecasting thunderstorms with gusty winds and heavy rainfall at isolated locations.
Heavy rainfall is also likely at isolated places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Gajapati districts on June 12-13, while southern districts including Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri may continue to receive heavy rain on June 13-14.
The IMD said day temperatures are not expected to change significantly over the next two days, followed by a gradual fall of 2-4 degrees Celsius during the subsequent two days as rainfall activity increases.
On Wednesday, Jharsuguda recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature at 41.6 degrees Celsius, while Sundargarh registered the lowest minimum temperature of 21.8 degrees Celsius.
The weather office has advised people to remain indoors during thunderstorms, avoid taking shelter under trees, unplug electrical appliances when necessary and stay away from water bodies during lightning activity.
