Bhubaneswar: Odisha is bracing for another spell of severe weather conditions with a probable fresh low-pressure system, developing over the northwest Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Monday.
“A cyclonic circulation prevails over northwest Bay of Bengal & neighbourhood. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the same region around August 12,” according to the midday bulletin.
On August 10-11, heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorm and gusty may continue to lash one or two places in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.
The intensity of rain is likely to increase during the subsequent 4 days with likely formation of the low-pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal. Orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall have been issued for districts of Kataka, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Anugola and Dhenkanal on August 12; Jharsuguda, Baragada and Sambalpur on August 13; Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada and Sambalpur on August 14; and Sambalpur on August 15.
There is also a yellow warning of heavy rain for the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Sundaragada, Baragada, Debagada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonpur, Boudh, Balangir, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada on August 12; Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada and Balangir on August 13; Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh and Balangir on August 14; Sundaragada, Anugola, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonpur and Boudh on August 15.
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) may also occur at one or two places in the districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada From August 12-14.
Fishermen have been strictly advised not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast from August 11 to August 14, as squally weather with wind speeds reaching 35–45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph is expected to make sea conditions rough to very rough.
Notably, southwest monsoon had picked up pace again after a low-pressure area developed over south Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining north Odisha on August 8, triggering a rainy week across Odisha. In July, Odisha experienced extreme rainfall and widespread flooding triggered by two major low-pressure systems: a deep depression off the northwest Bay of Bengal from July 2–5 and another system near the north Odisha and West Bengal coasts on July 25, both of which prompted red alerts.
The state has recorded 27 per cent excess rainfall between June 1 and August 8.
The latest spell in parts of the state coupled with rising water levels in many rivers has again created a flood-like situation in several pockets of north Odisha, which was limping back to normal after a major flood a few days ago. The situation may worsen as the fresh system is expected to dump more rains in the state.