Heavy Rain, Hailstorm Warning For Odisha; Check IMD Forecast For Next 5 Days

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday forecast heavy rainfall (7cm to 11cm) at one or two places in Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Cuttack, and Dhenkanal districts of Odisha on March 31.

The state is likely to witness thunderstorm activity with lightning, hail and gusty wind and accordingly yellow and orange warnings have been issued till April 2 morning.

“Under influence of anticipated Middle and upper tropospheric westerly trough and low level north – south wind discontinuity/trough Increase of thunderstorm activity is expected around March 31. Fairly widespread thunderstorm with rain very likely over Odisha and thunderstorm with lightning, isolated hail, heavy rain and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph is likely in some districts,” the MeT office said in its midday bulletin.

People have been advised to keep watch on weather and take shelter during the thunderstorm activity to protect from lightning strikes and follow traffic advisories in urban areas. Also harvesting of Rabi crops may be regulated judicially, it added.

While no warning has been issued for April 2, light to moderate rain or thunderstorm is likely at one or two places in coastal Odisha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Koraput while dry weather may prevail in remaining districts.

According to All India Weather Bulletin, thunderstorm with lightning  is likely in Odisha on March 29. Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty wind (30-40 kmph) is very likely at isolated places in the state the following day. On March 31, heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Odisha, which may also experience hailstorm/thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty wind (40-50 kmph). Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and gusty wind (30-40 kmph) likely at isolated places in the state on April 1.