Orange Alert: Heavy rain, hailstorm and strong winds in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to experience an increase in thunderstorm activity with lightning accompanied by rain, isolated hail, heavy rain and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph during the next 2 -3 days, the India Meteorological Department informed on Sunday.

Orange alert has been issued for some places in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Kandhamal, Boudh, Ganjam, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal and Angul districts, which may witness thunderstorm with lightning, hail and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph till 8.30 am on Monday.

The IMD has also sounded yellow alert for thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph at one or two places in Balasore, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Boudh, Nabarangpur and Nuapada. The rest districts may also experience thunderstorm and lightning.

Light to moderate rain or thunderstorm is also likely at many places in South Odisha, North Coastal Odisha and at a few places in the remaining parts of the state during this period.

The orange warning continues for another 24 hours with thunderstorm with lightning, hail and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph and heavy rainfall at one or two places in Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, and Balasore. Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph is also likely at one or two places in Jagatsinghpur, Khurdha, Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati Angul, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Balangir, Sonepur and Boudh. There is also a forecast for light to moderate rain for the entire state.

On April 25, yellow warning for thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph has been issued for one or two places in Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Balangir, Sonepur, Nabarangpur and Nuapada. Light to moderate rain or thunderstorm is also likely at many places in North Odisha, South Coastal Odisha and at a few places in interior districts of South Odisha.

Though yellow warning continues for another two days, there will be a decrease in the thunderstorm activity.