Bhubaneswar: Thunderstorm activity along with lightning, gusty surface winds, hail and heavy rainfall may continue in Odisha till May 6, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Friday.
On May 2, thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Bargarh, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. Thunderstorm/lightning accompanied by gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is also likely in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Sonepur, Boudh, Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Jajpur.
The weather agency has issued an orange warning for the next two days.
May 2, thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph and hailstorm, heavy rainfall may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Gajapati and Ganjam.
There is also a yellow warning for thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Angul, Nayagarh and Dhenkanal . Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph may also occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Puri, Khurda, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts.
On May 3, thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph and heavy rainfall may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Gajapati districts.
Yellow warning of thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph has been sounded for one or two places in Dhenkanal, Angul, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Kendrapada. Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph may also occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri. Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is also likely in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Rayagada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh and Keonjhar.
The IMD has cautioned about likely damage to standing crops, banana trees, loose/unsecured/vulnerable structures, kutcha houses/walls and huts due to strong winds in Mayurbhanj, Gajpati, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Balasore, Sundargarh, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts. People have been advised to keep watch on weather and take safe shelter during the thunderstorm activity to protect themselves from lightning. Farmers are also advised to use hail nets to protect vegetables and crops from hail.
The yellow warning persists for the next two days.
On May 4, thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is also likely in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Sundargarh, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Nayagarh.
On May 5, thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri. Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is also likely in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts.
It further stated that the day temperature is unlikely to witness any large change in the next 5 days and thereafter rise by 2-3°C during subsequent 2 days.