Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday forecast light to moderate rainfall over several districts of Odisha on February 3-4 because of an approaching Western Disturbance from the Bay of Bengal.
The IMD, in its midday bulletin, also forecast isolated thunderstorms accompanied by hail in some districts.
Feb 3 (8.30 am) to Feb 4 (8.30 am)
Light to moderate rain or thundershowers very likely over districts of north interior Odisha, at one or two places over north coastal Odisha districts, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur and Boudh.
Yellow warning: Thunderstorm with lightening very likely at one or two places over Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
Feb 4 (8.30 am) to Feb 5 (8.30 am)
Light to moderate rain or thundershower very likely over north Odisha districts and at a few places over south Odisha.
Yellow warning: Thunderstorm with lightening very likely at one or two places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj; and hailstorm very likely to occur at one or two places over Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak and Balasore.
Advisory for farmers
* Farmers are advised to shift harvested arhar, cauliflower, cabbage and other vegetables to safe storage before February 3.
* Sowing of green gram, black gram, sesame, other Rabi crops and transplanting of tomato, chilly and onion may be postponed.
* Make arrangement for covering with hail-net, plastic cover or polythene sheet for vegetables like onion, tomato, chilly and cauliflower, which are at seedling stage and also ensure proper drainage channels to drain out excess water in nursery as well as main field.
* Pause intercultural activities, fertiliser and pesticides applications as well as irrigation activities during rainfall.
