Bhubaneswar: A fresh low-pressure area formed over Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal-North Odisha coasts in the early hours of Sunday.
“It is very likely to move nearly northwestwards and become more marked during the next 24 hours,” according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Under its influence, isolated extremely heavy rainfall may lash north Odisha and Gangetic West Bengal on August 17. Very heavy rainfall is also likely from August 16-18. Isolated heavy rainfall may continue in the state from August 19-21.
On August 16-17, an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for the districts of Baleshwar, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj, while a yellow alert was sounded for Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghapur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Puri, and Khordha.
On August 17-18, a red warning of heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy rain has been issued for the districts of Baleshwar, and Mayurbhanj.
Similarly, an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rain has been issued for the district of Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Kataka, Dhenkanal, and Kendujhar.
A yellow warning has been issued for Jagatsinghapur, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Subarnapur, Boudh, Khordha, and Nayagada districts during the period.
On August 18-19, an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall was issued for the district of Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, and Baragada, while a yellow alert has been sounded the districts of Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Balangir.
From August 19 to August 22 morning, heavy rainfall is likely to occur at some places of Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj, where a yellow warning has been issued.
Sea conditions along and off the Odisha coast will remain rough to very rough, accompanied by squally weather with wind speeds reaching 40–50 kmph and gusting up to 60 kmph till August 18. The IMD has strictly advised fishermen not to venture into the Northwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal and along & off West Bengal & adjoining Bangladesh, Odisha & North Andhra Pradesh coasts during this period.
The new system has formed even as heavy rains triggered by a depression battered the state over the past 24 hours, prompting the government to move more than 95,000 people from low-lying areas to safer locations. Data from the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) indicates that around 2.70 lakh people across 503 villages situated in 52 blocks of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar, and Kendrapara have been affected due to flooding in the Baitarani, Brahmani, Jalaka, and Budhabalanga rivers and their tributaries. Further worsening the situation, the rapidly rising Subarnarekha River has severely compounded the distress in Baleshwar, a district already struggling against previous floodwaters from the Jalaka and Budhabalanga rivers.
The system dumped widespread heavy downpours in multiple districts across Odisha in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am. Banspal in Kendujhar district recorded the state’s highest rainfall at 135.6 mm, followed closely by Barkot in Debagada district with 135.2 mm and Tensa in Sundaragada district with 134.6 mm. Other areas that registered three-digit rainfall figures include Jamankira in Sambalpur district at 126.0 mm, Gurundia in Sundaragada district at 124.0 mm, Banaigarh in Sundaragada district at 106.0 mm, Kendujhargada at 104.6 mm, Telkoi at 102.0 mm, and Pallahara in Anugola district at 100.5 mm.
