Odisha braces for heavy rainfall as fresh low-pressure area forms over Bay of Bengal

Bhubaneswar, July 21: Odisha is expected to witness a fresh spell of intense rainfall as a new low-pressure area is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal around July 24, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Under its influence, the state is forecast to experience heavy to very heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty surface winds reaching 30–40 kmph over the next few days.

The IMD has issued a yellow warning for Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kandhamal, and Kalahandi till the morning of July 22. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are also likely in Gajapati, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Balasore.

On July 22–23, heavy rainfall is expected in Koraput and Malkangiri, while Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Nuapada, and Nabarangpur may witness thunderstorms.

An orange warning has been issued for Cuttack and Nayagarh on July 23–24, predicting very heavy rain, while a yellow alert covers Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Boudh.

For July 24–25, an orange warning has been issued for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Sundargarh, with a yellow warning for Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Bargarh, Angul, and Dhenkanal.