Fresh low-pressure over bay to trigger heavy rain in Odisha for next five days

Bhubaneswar, Aug 16: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said that Odisha will continue to witness widespread rainfall activity over the next five days due to multiple weather systems developing over the Bay of Bengal. A fresh low-pressure area is likely to form over the northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal around August 18, which may further intensify rainfall across several districts.

Meanwhile, the existing low-pressure system that had formed over south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh has now moved towards south Chhattisgarh and its neighbourhood. The system is expected to travel west-northwestwards, gradually weaken, and reach Gujarat by the morning of August 18 as a remnant cyclonic circulation.

For the next 24 hours, the IMD has issued a yellow warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds (30–40 kmph) for Malkangiri and Koraput districts. Similar warnings have been extended to coastal and interior districts including Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Ganjam, and Rayagada.

Between August 18–19, an orange warning has been issued for Malkangiri and Koraput, forecasting heavy to very heavy rain. Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Nuapada will also remain on alert with yellow warnings. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious and avoid vulnerable areas.