Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Wednesday that Odisha is likely to experience widespread rainfall over the upcoming week, issuing an Orange alert for Mayurbhanj district due to expected heavy to very heavy rainfall. Residents in various other districts have also been warned about thunderstorms, lightning, and high winds.
As per the IMD’s midday weather update released at 2 PM, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are anticipated in most regions of western, northern, and southern Odisha, as well as at many spots in the coastal areas until Thursday morning. Mayurbhanj has received an Orange warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations. Meanwhile, Yellow warnings for heavy rainfall have been issued for Kendujhar, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, and Ganjam. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph are expected throughout the state.
The weather conditions are predicted to worsen on Thursday, with light to moderate rain or thundershowers likely across all districts. Orange alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall are in effect for both Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj, while Yellow warnings persist for multiple northern, western, and southern districts. Thunderstorms, along with lightning and strong winds, are expected to continue affecting large areas of Odisha.
On Friday, the IMD forecasts light to moderate rainfall in many parts of the state, with Yellow warnings for heavy rain in Baleswar, Bhadrak, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj. Similar thunderstorm activity with gusty winds of up to 40 kmph is likely in several districts.
The rainfall pattern is expected to carry on through the weekend. On August 8, Yellow warnings for heavy rainfall will be in effect for Sundargarh, Kendujhar, and Mayurbhanj, with Mayurbhanj experiencing another bout of heavy to very heavy rainfall on August 9 under an Orange alert. Heavy rain is also anticipated in Jajpur, Sundargarh, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam on that day, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds across various districts.
The IMD predicts that light to moderate rain and thundershowers will persist over large areas of Odisha until August 12. Yellow warnings for heavy rainfall will remain in place for Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj on August 10 and 11, while the forecast for the following three days shows no significant changes in weather conditions.
The weather agency cautioned that heavy rainfall may result in localized flooding, waterlogging in low-lying urban regions, traffic disruptions, decreased visibility, minor damage to unpaved roads, harm to vulnerable structures, and landslides in susceptible areas, potentially affecting standing crops. Residents are advised to steer clear of waterlogged areas, check traffic conditions before traveling, heed official warnings, and avoid susceptible structures.
In Bhubaneswar and its nearby regions, the IMD predicts a generally overcast sky with chances of rain or thunderstorms over the next 24 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 34 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Furthermore, the IMD has reported that there are no weather advisories for fishermen along the Odisha coast for the next five days.
