Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast lightning and rain in 12 districts of Odisha in next three hours.
In a nowcast alert, the regional centre of the IMD in Bhubaneswar said, “Light to moderate thunderstorm with lightning and light to moderate rain is likely in some parts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Angul, Sambalpur, Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Koraput districts within next three hours.”
It advised the people to keep a watch on the weather and accordingly move to safer places to protect themselves from lightning strike.
In its evening bulletin, the IMD issued yellow warning and said thunderstorm with lightning accompanied
by gusty surface wind with speed reaching 30-40 kmph is likely at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur and Rayagada.
Earlier in the day, the weather forecaster said the southwest monsoon has covered the entire state and said thunderstorm activity with gusty wind will continue till June 26. It forecast heavy rainfall on June 26-27.