Bhubaneswar: Widespread rain together with thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds is likely to lash several parts of Odisha over the next five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.
Thunderstorm activity and rainfall of varied intensity are expected to provide the much-needed respite from the sweltering heatwave conditions prevailing in the state.
The IMD has predicted that maximum temperature (day temperature) is expected to fall by 2-3℃ in most parts of the state after 24 hours.
However, weather experts say humidity levels are likely to remain high during the active monsoon phase and people may continue to experience sticky and uncomfortable conditions despite a drop in temperature.
In its midday weather bulletin, the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has issued an orange warning of thunderstorm accomp
anied by lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 50-60 kmph) for the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabrangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Gajapati during the next 24 hours.
Similarly, a yellow warning has been issued for the districts of Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh during the period.
On June 19-20, an orange warning of thunderstorm, lightning and gusty surface wind (wind speed reaching up to 50-60 kmph) has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh districts.
The weather agency has issued a yellow warning for several districts between June 20 and the morning of June 23.
The weather office has also warned of heavy rainfall in parts of southern Odisha, with rain activity expected to intensify over the next 48 hours. Malkangiri, Koraput, Mayurbhanj and Balasore are likely to receive heavy rainfall, while several other districts may witness thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds.
Meanwhile, the IMD has indicated the possibility of a low-pressure area forming over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining Odisha coast around June 24-25. If the system develops as predicted, it could further enhance rainfall activity across Odisha.