Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to experience thunderstorm activity with lightning, gusty surface winds, hail and heavy rain till April 17, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Sunday.
The weather agency has issued orange warning of thunderstorm accompanied by lightning, gusty surface wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph and hailstorm in the afternoon/evening hours at a few places in Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Keonjhargarh, Mayurbhanj, and Balasore districts till 8.30 am on Monday.
It further stated that strong winds may damage plantation, horticulture and standing crops in these districts. “There could be minor damage to loose/unsecured structures, vulnerable structures and kutcha houses/walls,” it said.
People have been advised to keep watch on weather and move to safe places during the thunderstorm activity to protect from lightning. “Also harvesting of crops may be regulated judicially and farmers are advised to use hail nets to protect vegetables and crops from hail,” it added.
Thunderstorm/lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph may also occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Bargarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati during this period.
Light to moderate rain is also in the afternoon/evening hours at a few places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj, and at one or two places in Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.
Parts of the state will continue to experience thunderstorm, lightning and gusty wind activity for the next four days due to sufficient availability of moisture and local heating.
Light to moderate rain may continue in the afternoon/evening hours at a few places in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, and Dhenkanal on April 18, and Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam on April 19.