Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued orange and yellow warnings for several districts of Odisha, forecasting thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds reaching up to 60 kmph along with continuing heatwave conditions over parts of the state during the next few days.
The IMD’s Meteorological Centre here said thunderstorm activity accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds of 50-60 kmph is very likely at one or two places in Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Boudh and Kandhamal districts during the afternoon and evening hours till Saturday morning. An orange warning has also been issued for heatwave conditions in Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Bolangir districts, while warm night conditions are likely in Sambalpur and Bolangir.
Under yellow warning, thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 40-50 kmph are likely in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh districts. Heatwave conditions may also prevail in Boudh, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Khurda districts, while hot and humid weather is expected in several coastal and southern districts.
The weather office said light to moderate rain or thundershower activity is likely at one or two places over many districts during the next five days. Heatwave conditions are expected to continue in Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Bolangir till at least May 28.
According to the bulletin, heatwave conditions prevailed at isolated places in Jharsuguda district on Friday, while hot and humid conditions were recorded in Hirakud. Warm night conditions prevailed in Bolangir district.
The IMD said the highest maximum temperature in the state was recorded at Jharsuguda at 45.2 degrees Celsius, while Paralakhemundi recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 23 degrees Celsius.
The bulletin noted that light to moderate rainfall occurred at isolated places in Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Mayurbhanj and Kandhamal districts. Gunupur in Rayagada district recorded the highest rainfall of 3 cm.
The IMD also referred to media reports stating that one person died due to suspected sunstroke in Khordha district, while three cattle reportedly died due to thunderstorm and lightning activity in Koraput district.
In Bhubaneswar and adjoining areas, heatwave conditions are likely to prevail during the next 24 hours, with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 42 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius respectively, the IMD added.
