Bhubaneswar: With the monsoon trough passing southeastwards towards Northeast Bay of Bengal, heavy to very heavy rainfall may continue in Odisha till July 28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Wednesday.
Orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for districts of Sundaragada, Jharsuguda and Kendujhar on July 22. Heavy rainfall may also occur in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal and Mayurbhanj.
There is also a warning for thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) at one or two places in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Baragada, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagada.
The MeT office further stated that squally weather with wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph occasionally gusting to 55 kmph may prevail along and off the Odisha coast from July 22.
According to senior meteorologist Sarat Sahu, rainfall activity may pick up significantly across the state from July 22 to July 25 with the formation of a cyclonic circulation over Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and the adjoining Bay of Bengal. The system is expected to intensify further into a low pressure over the same region by July 24. “Rainfall will increase across the state from July 22 through July 25. While North Odisha is likely to experience heavier spells, coastal and southern districts, including Ganjam, Nayagada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri—will also receive rain due to the prevailing wind flow,” Sahu noted.
Puri may also experience rainfall, which could impact the upcoming Bahuda yatra festivities.
IMD’s Forecast From June 23-28
On July 23, heavy rainfall may continue in Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) is also likely in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj.
On July 24, heavy rainfall may occur in Baleshwar and Mayurbhanj. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) is also likely in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, and Mayurbhanj.
On July 25 26, heavy rainfall warning continues for Baleshwar, Sundaragada, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj. Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) is also likely in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Sundaragada, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj.
On July 27-28, heavy rainfall may occur in the districts of Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj with no large change thereafter.
