Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued a midday weather bulletin warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds across several districts of Odisha, even as heat-wave conditions are expected to persist in isolated pockets of western and interior regions.
According to the IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, a trough at 0.9 km above mean sea level currently extends from north Bihar to south Chhattisgarh across Jharkhand and interior Odisha. In addition, an upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over north coastal Odisha and its neighbourhood at 1.5 km above mean sea level, influencing prevailing weather conditions in the state.
Light to moderate rainfall was recorded at one or two places in Mayurbhanj district, Balasore district and Rayagada district over the past 24 hours. The highest rainfall of 3 cm each was reported from Chandua Kuliana, Baripada, Betanati and Suliapada in Mayurbhanj. Dry weather prevailed in the rest of the state.
Day temperatures rose by about 2 degrees Celsius at a few places in interior Odisha. The highest maximum temperature of 43.7°C was recorded at Titilagarh, while the lowest minimum temperature of 21.6°C was registered at Jagatsinghpur and Rayagada.
Forecast and warnings (till 0830 hrs IST, April 18):
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers at one or two places over northern, coastal, and southern districts, including Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Koraput, Rayagada and Sundargarh.
Under a Yellow Warning (Be Aware), thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40–50 kmph) are very likely in the afternoon or evening over Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Balasore. Similar conditions with slightly lower wind speeds (30–40 kmph) are expected across several other districts, including coastal, southern and western regions.
Heat-wave conditions are likely to prevail at isolated places in Balangir, Kalahandi and Sambalpur, with warm night conditions also expected in parts of western Odisha. Coastal districts are likely to experience hot and humid weather.
The IMD said light to moderate rainfall activity will continue over coastal and southern districts till April 20, shifting towards Koraput and Malkangiri from April 21 onwards. Heat-wave conditions are expected to persist over western and interior districts, including Sundargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi and Sambalpur, through April 21. Hot and humid conditions are likely to dominate coastal areas for most of the week.
Maximum temperatures across the state are likely to rise by 2–3°C over the next 24 hours, with no significant change thereafter.
For Bhubaneswar and adjoining areas, the IMD has predicted a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of rain or thundershowers over the next 24 hours. Day and night temperatures are expected to hover around 36°C and 27°C, respectively.
