Bhubaneswar: The IMD Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has forecast a fresh spell of very heavy rain across Odisha, even as two days of dry spell helped flood conditions to ease and kept major rivers, including the Subarnarekha in worst-hit Baleshwar, below the danger mark on Friday.
While heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds may resume in the state from August 21 due to an active monsoon and multiple cyclonic circulations over north Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, and the Bay of Bengal, the intensity of downpour may increase from August 24.
An orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall (12 cm to 20 cm) has been issued for northern districts:
August 24: Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj.
August 25-26: Mayurbhanj.
Ausgut 27: Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj.
Yellow warning covers next seven days due to heavy rainfall (7 cm to 11 cm), severe lightning, and gusty surface winds reaching 30–40 kmph:
August 22: Heavy rainfall may occur in interior and northern districts of Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur.
August 23: Heavy rain warning continues for Sundaragada, Baragada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Balangir and Kalahandi.
August 24: Heavy rain will continue to lash Jajpur, Sundaragada, Debagada, Anugola, and Dhenkanal districts.
August 25: Heavy rain may occur in Jajpur, Sundaragada, Kendujhar and Balangir.
August 26: The warning expands across Jajpur, Sundaragada, Kendujhar, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Debagada, Anugola, and Dhenkanal.
August 27: Heavy rain may continue in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Sundaragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, and Dhenkanal.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds (30–40 kmph) may also occur across coastal and interior districts of Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagada from August 21-25.
The meteorological department has warned of localised flooding, waterlogging in low-lying urban areas, reduced visibility, minor damage to vulnerable structures or kutcha roads, and potential mudslides in hilly terrain. Commuters are advised to check route conditions before traveling and stay away from fragile structures during intense rain spells.
