Bhubaneswar: Amid the prevailing thunderstorm activity along with lightning, gusty surface winds, hail and heavy rainfall, India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday forecast 2-3°C drop in the day temperature in Odisha during the next 24 hours.
The mercury levels are unlikely to witness any large change during the next 4 days and thereafter rise by 2-3°C in the subsequent 2 days, it said.
The weather agency has issued orange and yellow warnings till May 6.
MAY 4
Orange warning: Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph and heavy rainfall may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Malkangiri districts.
Yellow warning: Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surfa
ce wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is also likely in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Keonjhar, Angul, and Dhenkanal.
MAY 5
Orange warning: Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph, heavy rainfall and hailstorm may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak and Gajapati.
Yellow warning: Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph is also likely in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.
MAY 6
Yellow warning: Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore and Bhadrak.
The IMD has warned of damage to standing crops, banana trees, loose/unsecured/vulnerable structures due to strong winds in Mayurbhanj, Koraput, Malkangiri, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak and Gajapati. People have been advised to keep watch on weather and move to safer places during thunderstorm activity to protect themselves from lightning. Farmers are also advised to use hail nets to protect vegetables and crops from hail.
While there is no warning thereafter, light to moderate rain may continue at some places in the state, it added.