Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow warning for several parts of Odisha on Sunday, forecasting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds during the afternoon and evening hours.
As per the IMD prediction, thunderstorms with lightning and strong gusty winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph are very likely to occur at one or two places over Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Sundargarh, Cuttack, Khordha, Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, and Malkangiri districts.
Similarly, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate gusty winds (30 to 40 kmph) are expected at one or two places over Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Nabarangapur, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, and Nayagarh districts.
For May 4, the regional weather office has issued a yellow warning predicting thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty surface wind in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Khordha, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangapur.
Besides, thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching upto 30-40 kmph) are very likely to occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Sundargarh on Monday.
For May 5, the IMD has issued orange alert for thunderstorms accompanied with lightning, hailstorm and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching upto 50-60 kmph) in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada district.
“Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching upto 40-50 kmph) very likely to occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangapur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur”, read IMD’s forecast for May 5. These districts are under yellow alert.
The IMD has advised people to remain cautious during the afternoon and evening hours. Residents, especially those in rural areas, have been asked to avoid taking shelter under trees and to stay away from open fields and water bodies during thunderstorms. Farmers and outdoor workers are advised to plan their activities accordingly to ensure safety.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off North Odisha Coast till May 5 due to squally weather.
