Bhubaneswar, July 23 (UDN): Odisha is expected to witness a prolonged spell of rain and thunderstorms over the next week, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a Yellow Warning for several districts, cautioning residents about heavy rainfall, lightning and gusty winds till July 30.
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According to the IMD’s Regional Centre in Bhubaneswar, light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thundershowers is likely at many places across northern Odisha and at a few places in the southern districts over the next 24 hours. Balasore and Mayurbhanj are likely to receive heavy rainfall at isolated places.
The weather office has also warned of thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 30–40 kmph in several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Puri and Khordha. Residents have been advised to remain alert during periods of intense weather activity.
Rainfall has already been recorded across most parts of the state. Kuchinda in Sambalpur district recorded the highest rainfall of 6 cm, while Chandikhol in Jajpur and several locations in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara and Bargarh received around 5 cm each.
The IMD has forecast similar weather conditions on July 24 and 25, with light to moderate rain expected across many parts of Odisha. Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Balasore, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, while the Yellow Warning for thunderstorms and gusty winds is expected to continue in multiple districts.
For Bhubaneswar and adjoining areas, the weather is expected to remain partly cloudy, with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers during the next 24 hours. Daytime temperatures are likely to hover around 33°C, while the minimum temperature may remain close to 26°C.
Meanwhile, the IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the North Odisha coast on July 23. Squally weather with wind speeds of 35–45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph, is likely to make sea conditions rough to very rough, posing risks to fishing operations.
The weather department also noted that the upper-air cyclonic circulation over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha coast, which had influenced the prevailing weather, has weakened. However, favourable atmospheric conditions continue to support widespread rainfall activity across the state over the coming days.