Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow warnings for the next five days, forecasting thunderstorm activity accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds at isolated places across several districts of Odisha. These warnings are valid from May 14 to May 18, with thunderstorms expected mainly during the afternoon and evening hours.
Going by IMD prediction, thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph are very likely at one or two places over Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Balasore, and Sundergarh districts. In addition, thunderstorms with wind speeds of 30-40 kmph are expected at one or two places over Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri.
On May 15, stronger thunderstorms with gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are likely at isolated places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Kendrapara. Meanwhile, moderate thunderstorms with 30-40 kmph winds are expected over Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.
On May 16, the higher intensity activity (40-50 kmph) shifts to coastal and southern districts, with thunderstorms and strong gusty winds likely at one or two places over Puri, Khurda, Ganjam, and Gajapati.
Moderate intensity thunderstorms (30-40 kmph) are forecast over Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, and Boudh.
On May 17 and May 18, the warnings continue with thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph likely at one or two places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar.
The IMD has advised residents, particularly in rural and coastal areas, to stay alert during afternoon and evening hours. People are urged to avoid open fields, taking shelter under trees, or using electrical appliances during thunderstorms.
