Bhubaneswar: The heavy downpour in Odisha capital is likely to continue for another few hours with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing orange warning for 18 districts, including the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, till 3.30 pm.
Moderate rain/thundershowers with one or two intense/heavy spells of rain is likely in Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Jajapur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Balangir, Bargarh, Sonepur and Sambalpur within next three hours.
Bhubaneswar may experience one or two spells of intense rain in next one hour.
The MeT office has warned of waterlogging in low lying area, occasionally poor visibility and traffic disruption in urban areas. Avoid movement in affected area and do arrangement for drainage of excess water, it added.
Earlier, the weather agency issued alert for light to moderate rain, thunderstorm with lightning in some parts of Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi & Kandhamal till 2 pm. People were advised to keep a watch on the weather and accordingly move to safer places to protect themselves from lightning strikes.
It further noted that conditions are favourable for advancement of southwest monsoon into Odisha.
Earlier, the IMD had forecast heavy rainfall at one or two places in Nabarangapur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj on Thursday. Thunderstorm with lightning is also likely to occur at one or two places in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Cuttack, Khurda. Light to moderate rain or thundershower may occur at many places in the state, it added.
