Rivers In Odisha Likely To Swell As IMD Predicts Extremely Heavy Rain, Strong Winds With LoPAR Gaining Strength

Bhubaneswar: Red warning of extremely heavy rain has been sounded for Odisha as the low-pressure over Bay of Bengal is likely to become well-marked and intensify into a depression during the next 3 days.

“Under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over eastcentral Bay of Bengal & neighbourhood, a low pressure area formed over central and adjoining north Bay of Bengal at 8.30 am. It is likely to move westnorthwestwards and become more marked over westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal by August 30. Thereafter, while moving towards north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts, it is likely to intensify into a depression over westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal during subsequent 2 days,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a special bulletin.

Orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) has been issued for isolated places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam districts on August 29. Heavy Rainfall (7 to 11cm) may also occur at isolated places in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khordha, Puri, Nuapada, Bargarh, Boudh and Sonepur. Thunderstorm with lightning is also likely at isolated places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Nuapada, Bargarh, Boudh and Sonepur.

On August 20, red warning of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) with isolated extremely heavy rainfall (>20cm) has been issued for Malkangiri, Koraput and Gajapati districts.

The weather agency has warned of flash flood/waterlogging in low-lying areas, inundation of agriculture field and mudslides/landslides in vulnerable hilly areas. “There is also a possibility of some damage to kutcha road, wall collapse of vulnerable kutcha houses, waterlogging in underpass road and occasional reduction of visibility causing traffic congestion in urban areas. The rains may also lead to significant rise in water level of rivers,” it said.

Squally weather with surface wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph may prevail over Central Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Bay of Bengal on August 29 and along and off Odisha coasts during till September 1. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea along and off Odisha coasts from August 30 to September 1.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall may also continue at isolated places in Rayagada, Ganjam, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi with  heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) in Nuapada, Balangir, Boudh, Kandhamal, Sonepur, Bargarh, Nayagarh, Khhurda, Puri, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur districts.

On August 31, there is an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur. Heavy rainfall may also occur in Rayagada, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Gajapati and Balangir districts.

Heavy rainfall may continue at isolated places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur during the subsequent 24 hours, it added.