Bhubaneswar: A well-marked low-pressure system over northwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Odisha–West Bengal coasts is expected to intensify into a depression within 12 hours, bringing torrential downpours, strong surface winds, and potential localised flooding in Odisha.
“Yesterday’s low-pressure area over West Bengal coast & adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal lay as a well-marked low-pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal & adjoining Odisha-West Bengal coasts at 5.30 am. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression over the same region during the next 12 hours. It is likely to move northwestwards and cross North Odisha-West Bengal Coasts around July 27 forenoon,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Sunday.
With the system gaining strength, the weather agency has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Odisha on July 26. Isolated very heavy rainfall is also likely in the state from July 27-28, with isolated heavy rainfall on July 29.
Moderate rain with thunder and lightning may occur at many places in Balangir, Baragada, Boudhgada, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamala, Kendrapada, Nuapada, Rayagada and Sonpur till around 1.30 pm on July 26.
In its Saturday bulletin, the IMD had issued a red warning of heavy to extremely heavy rain for Kendujhar district on July 26-27. Similarly, an orange warning has been issued for Jajpur, Kataka, Sundaraagada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, and Mayurbhanj, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places. A yellow warning of heavy rainfall has also been issued for Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Sonpur, Boudhagada, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Puri, Khordha, Balangir and Nayagada.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 30 to 40 kmph may also occur at isolated places in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonpur, Boudhgada, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada districts.
The Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) of SOA Deemed to be University here had also forecast moderate to heavy rainfall with heavy to very heavy precipitation at a few places in north and western Odisha districts between July 25 and 28. The rains are likely in the catchment areas of Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Mahanadi rivers spread across districts of Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Sundaragada, Debagada, Anugola, Sambalpur, Baragada, Kataka, Kendrapada, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Nayagada, Sonpur, Boudhgada and Balangir, it added.