Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in Odisha during the third-round simultaneous elections on May 25 when voting will take place in Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack Parliamentary constituencies and Assembly seats within them.
According to the midday bulletin, isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall may occur in Odisha from May 20-24 and increase thereafter with scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) from May 25-28. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely in north Odisha on May 24-25 under the influence of a trough, running from northwest Uttar Pradesh to east Bangladesh in lower tropospheric levels.
On May 24, heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada and heavy rainfall at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Cuttack. Thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph is also likely at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj districts. Thunderstorm with lightning accompanied with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph may occur at one or two places in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.
Light to moderate rain/thundershower may also occur at many places in coastal Odisha ,Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal and at a few places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, and Boudh.
On May 25, heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Mayurbhanj and heavy rainfall at one or two places in Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jajpur and Keonjhar.
Light to moderate rain/thundershower is also likely at many places in North Odisha, South Coastal Odisha and at a few places in Nuapada, Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Kandhamal and at one or two places in remaining districts of the state.
The Met office has also forecast formation of a low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal around May 22 and its possible intensification into a depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal by morning of May 24.
Under its influence, squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely over central Bay of Bengal from May 23 morning. “It would extend to adjoining areas of North Bay of Bengal from May 24, with increased in wind speed of 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph. Sea condition is likely to be rough to very rough over central Bay of Bengal from May 23 and over North Bay of Bengal from May 24 onwards. Fishermen are advised not to venture into central Bay of Bengal from May 23 and into North Bay of Bengal from May 24. Fishermen who were out at the sea are advised to return to the coast before May 23.”
