Well-Marked Low Pressure Over Bay Persists, Heavy Rain To Continue In Odisha Till July 30; Orange Alert For 2 Dists

Bhubaneswar: As the well-marked low pressure area continues to persist over westcentral and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday forecast light/moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls over Odisha till July 30.

The system is likely to move slowly northwestwards across north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts, it said. However, there is no mention of whether it will intensify into a depression as predicting earlier.

The MeT office further said that the state is also experiencing strong monsoon flow. “The Monsoon Trough is now passing through Jaisalmer, Kota, Raisen,Mandla, Durg, centre of well-marked low pressure area over Westcentral & adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts,” it added.

Orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain (7 to 20cm) has been issued for isolated places in Malkangiri and Koraput till 8.30 am on Thursday. Heavy Rainfall (7 to 11cm) is also likely at one or two places in Nuapada, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Balangir.

The weather agency has also warned of temporary waterlogging in low-lying areas and landslides in vulnerable hilly areas of Malkangiri and Koraput.

Though the state is likely to witness heavy rain for the next four days, there is no further orange warning.

“Under the influence of well-marked low pressure area and strong monsoon flow, squally weather with gusty surface wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph may prevail along & off Odisha coast, West central adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal till July 27. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along & off Odisha coast, Northwest & adjoining West Central Bay of Bengal,” the IMD added.

The SOA’s Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) in Bhubaneswar had earlier forecast widespread rainfall across South Odisha on Wednesday with heavy precipitation at a few places.  It had also predicted another low pressure area in the Bay on July 30. It may trigger heavy to very heavy rainfall in north Odisha districts from July 31 to August 3, it added.