Bhubaneswar: Thunderstorm coupled with gusty surface wind, lightning and rain is likely to lash almost all parts of Odisha on Thursday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a nowcast warning.
State capital Bhubaneswar as well as neighbouring Cuttack city are also likely to be battered by thunderstorm of varied intensity by 8 pm.
The weather agency in a message issued at 4.20 pm has sounded orange warning for 14 districts and yellow alert for 15 districts of the state.
Moderate thunderstorm accompanied by surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph, lightning and light to moderate rain may affect some parts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda (including Bhubaneswar), Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi and Kandhamal districts within next three hours.
Under its impact Minor damage to loose / unsecured structures, minor damage to banana trees, and standing crops may occur. People are advised to keep a watch on the weather for worsening conditions and be ready to move to safer places accordingly.
Similarly, light to moderate thunderstorm with gusty wind speed reaching 30- 40 kmph, lightning and light to moderate rain may affect some parts of Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Angul, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir, Bargarh, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Kendrapada, Jharsuguda and Cuttack (including Cuttack city) within next three hours.
People are advised to keep a watch on the weather for worsening conditions and be ready to move to safer places protect from lightning strike.