Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall for three days under the influence of the low-pressure area over westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha coasts, which is expected to intensify into a depression in 24 hours.
“It is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a depression during the subsequent 24 hours and cross south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts around the forenoon of August 19,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed in its midday bulletin.
RED WARNING FOR AUGUST 18
The weather agency has issued a red warning of extremely heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph for one or two places in Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts on Monday. Heavy to very heavy rain along with thunderstorm/lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph (orange warning) may also occur at one or two places in Kalahandi, Rayagada and Gajapati.
There is also a yellow warning of heavy rain along with thunderstorm/lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph for one or two places in Ganjam, Kandhamal , Boudh , Sonepur, Balangir, Nuapada and Nabarangpur. Thunderstorm/lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph may also occur at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, and Rayagada.
FORECAST FOR AUGUST 17 & 19
FISHERMEN WARNING
The IMD further stated that squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph may prevail over westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay Of Bengal along & off South Odisha coast for the next 24 hours. It is likely to increase and become squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph over westcentral and adjoining northwest and eastcentral Bay of Bengal from August 18-20.
Sea condition is likely to be rough to very rough. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into these regions till August 20. Those out at sea must return to the coast by Sunday evening, it added.
Puri and Gopalpur ports have been asked to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No-III (LC-3).
HEAVY RAIN TO RESUME AGAIN
While there is no warning on August 20-21, heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph may occur at one or two places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Sundargarh districts on August 22-23 with no large change thereafter.