Bhubaneswar: Intense thunderstorm along with heavy rain is likely to continue in several parts of Odisha over the next five days even as conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance further in the state.
Thunderstorm coupled with lightning, gusty surface winds, and heavy rain is set to affect several districts till June 18, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday, issuing orange and yellow warnings for different areas.
In its midday weather bulletin, the IMD issues an orange warning for Kandhamal
, Rayagada, and Gajapati districts, where thunderstorm accompanied by lightning, gusty winds reaching 50–60 kmph, and heavy rainfall may occur in next 24 hours.
A yellow warning has been issued for districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh. In these areas, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 40–50 kmph are likely at isolated places.
The IMD has also warned of hot and humid conditions at isolated places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh on June 14 and 15.
For the period from June 16 to 18, the IMD has extended the yellow warning for thunderstorms across most districts of the state, indicating continued unstable weather conditions.
The IMD has advised residents to remain alert and take necessary precautions during the warning period, especially in view of possible lightning strikes, gusty winds, and heavy rainfall.