Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange warning for 11 districts of Odisha, inclduing Khurda and Puri, till 7.13 pm on Sunday.
Moderate thunderstorms, rain and lightning may occur at a few places in Jagatsinghapur, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Khurda, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nayagarh, Puri, Rayagada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh districts in the next 3 hours.
Light to moderate rain along with thunderstorms and lightning may also occur at a few places in Mayurbhanj, Bargarh and Kalahandi districts during this period.
Earlier, the weather agency had also warned of moderate thunderstorms, rain and lightning at a few places in Jajpur, Kendrapada and Cuttack districts till 6.22 pm.
These warnings have come amid likely formation of a low-pressure area over North Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours. Another fresh low-pressure may also form over eastcentral and adjoining north Bay of Bengal around September 25. “Moving west-northwestwards, it is very likely to become a depression over northwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal off South Odisha- North Andhra Pradesh coasts around 26th September. It is very likely to cross South Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coasts around September 27,” the IMD said in its midday bulletin.
Under the influence of the systems, Odisha may experience heavy rain till September 27. Squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph may also prevail along and off Odisha coast & North Bay of Bengal from Septemebr 21-25.
While heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph at one or two places in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri and Ganjam on September 21, the Met Office has issued an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph likely in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts on September 22.