Bhubaneswar, July 14: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread and intense rainfall across Odisha over the next four days as a low-pressure area is likely to develop over the Bay of Bengal. The weather system is expected to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by squally winds, prompting the IMD to issue red, orange and yellow warnings for several districts.
According to the Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, an upper air cyclonic circulation currently persists over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Bangladesh, extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining the West Bangladesh coast within the next 24 hours, leading to widespread rain across Odisha.
For July 15, the IMD has issued a Red Warning for Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur, where extremely heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places. Orange Warnings have been issued for Balasore, Jajpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh, while Yellow Warnings are in place for Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kandhamal and Rayagada.
The weather is expected to remain severe on July 16, with Jagatsinghpur continuing under Red Alert. Several coastal and interior districts, including Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh and Dhenkanal, will remain under Orange Warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Although the intensity of rainfall is likely to decrease slightly from July 17, the IMD has warned that heavy showers will continue across most parts of the state. Orange Warnings have been issued for Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack, while Yellow Warnings cover more than two dozen districts.
The IMD has advised residents, particularly those living in low-lying and flood-prone areas, to remain alert and follow official advisories as the weather system is likely to cause waterlogging, localized flooding and disruptions to normal life.
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