Bhubaneswar: The Regional Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared a red alert for three districts in Odisha, following the intensification of a well-marked low-pressure area in the northwest Bay of Bengal and the adjacent coast of north Odisha and West Bengal on Sunday. This system is expected to cause widespread rainfall throughout the state.
The weather forecast indicates heavy to very heavy rain over the next three days, prompting the issuance of a red warning for the districts of Baragada, Sambalpur, and Nuapada on Sunday.
An orange warning has also been issued for the districts of Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Debagada, Sonpur, Balangir, and Kalahandi.
A yellow warning is in effect for Baleshwar, Anugola, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Boudhagada, Kandhamala, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri.
The IMD reports that the low-pressure system has become more organized, with cyclonic circulation extending up to 9.4 kilometers above mean sea level and tilting southwestward as it rises. The system is anticipated to move west-northwest across north Odisha and north Chhattisgarh over the coming days.
Heavy rainfall is expected to persist across Odisha during this period, raising concerns about localized flooding and waterlogging in susceptible regions, according to the IMD.
Rainfall was widespread across the state on Saturday, with Koraput recording the highest precipitation at 69.2 mm, followed by Balangir at 67 mm, Sonepur at 52 mm, Khordha at 47 mm, Bhubaneswar at 45.6 mm, and Dhenkanal at 41 mm, as reported by the weather office.
