Thunderstorms, gusty winds to lash Odisha till May 2, IMD warns

Bhubaneswar, April 28: Amid continuing thunderstorm activity, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday warned of squally weather conditions along and off the north Odisha coast over the next 24 hours.

Surface wind speeds are expected to reach 45–50 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph. Fishermen have been strongly advised not to venture into the sea during this period.

The IMD has issued both yellow and orange alerts for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, which are likely to continue until May 2. Isolated heavy rainfall is also forecast between April 29 and May 1. While no major change in daytime temperatures is expected over the next five days, a gradual rise of 2-4°C is anticipated afterward.

For April 28, an orange warning is in place for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda, predicting thunderstorms with wind speeds of 50–60 kmph. Yellow warnings have also been issued for Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Kendrapada.

On April 29, orange warnings extend to Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, and Jajpur with risks of hailstorms and heavy rain. Yellow warnings cover Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Angul, and Dhenkanal.

The public has been urged to remain alert, seek shelter during thunderstorms, and farmers have been advised to use hail nets to protect their crops from potential damage.