Bhubaneswar: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red, yellow and orange warnings for several districts of Odisha till late Monday afternoon.
Red warning of moderate thunderstorm with surface wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph with possibility of hail, has been issued for the districts of Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda and Puri till 4.24 pm.
Similar warning with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph and moderate rain has been sounded for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Boudh, Kandhamal and Kalahandi till 3.20 pm. Light rain or thunderstorm with lighting may also occur in Khurda (including Bhubaneswar), Cuttack, Balangir, Puri, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Angul, Jajpur and Deogarh districts during this period.
Orange warning of moderate thunderstorm, lightning with gusty wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph has also been issued for some parts of Koraput, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur till 4.15 pm.
People have been advised to keep a watch on the weather and move to safer places to protect themselves from lightning strikes.
The IMD, in its bulletin, warned of thunderstorm, lightning and squally wind speed reaching 50-60 and gusting to 70 with hailstorm in Odisha on March 16. Isolated to scattered light/moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm, l
ightning and gusty wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is also likely from March 16-20.
It further stated that the day temperature in the state may fall further by 2-3 degree Celsius after 4 days.
Check the warnings till March 20 here
March 16
Orange Warning: Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and hail along with gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 50-60 kmph) is likely at isolated places over the districts of Mayurbhanj.
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 40-50 kmph) may also occur at one or two places in Keonjhar, Balasore, Jagatsinghpur & Puri.
Yellow Warning: Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 30-40 kmph) is likely at one or two places in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balangir, Boudh, Kalahandi and Kandhamal.
March 17
Yellow Warning: Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 30-40 kmph) may occur at one or two places in Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Balasore.
March 18
Yellow Warning: Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 30-40 kmph) may occur at one or two places in Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Rayagada and Nabarangpur.
March 19
Yellow Warning: Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 30-40 kmph) may occur at one or two places in Kandhamal, Rayagada and Gajapati.
March 20
Yellow Warning: Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 30-40 kmph) may occur at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur.