Bhubaneswar: Thunderstorm and lightning activity is likely to resume in Odisha on Monday under the influence of two meteorological trough lines passing through the interior and northern parts of the state as the southwest monsoon transitions toward its withdrawal phase.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow warning of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) for several districts till October 8.
October 5: Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonpur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, and Kandhamala.
October 6: Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri.
October 7-8: Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonpur, Boudh, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.
Light to moderate rain may also occur at these places during this period, and slowly diminish thereafter., it added.
The weather warning has come amid earlier forecast on possible formation of post-monsoon season’s first low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal around October 13, raising the prospect of heavy showers ahead of Dussehra and Durga Puja festivities.
According to the IMD’s extended-range outlook issued on October 1, cyclonic circulation is expected to emerge over the North Andaman Sea around October 12. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the Andaman Sea the following day and move west-northwestwards into the southeast Bay of Bengal. The agency has assessed a low probability of the system intensifying further into a depression over the central parts of the south Bay of Bengal and adjoining central Bay of Bengal around October 15. Numerical models, including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the American Global Forecast System, broadly agree on the emergence of the low-pressure area and its possible development into a depression or deep depression. However, there is no clear consensus on further intensification into a cyclonic storm or on the precise track.
Notably, October is climatologically one of the most favourable months for cyclogenesis in the Bay of Bengal, thanks to warm sea-surface temperatures and relatively low vertical wind shear. The region has a history of powerful storms during this period, including the 1999 Super Cyclone and more recent systems such as Phailin in 2013, Hudhud in 2014 and Titli in 2018.
Cyclone Phailin struck Odisha near Gopalpur in Ganjam district on October 12, 2013, right during the Durga Puja celebrations.