The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued a red warning for four districts of Odisha, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy showers over the next 24 hours under the influence of a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal.
According to the IMD’s Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, the low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha-West Bengal coast persists over the region and is likely to intensify further during the next two days. The associated cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level, tilting southwestwards with height.
The weather system, coupled with the seasonal trough extending from northwest Rajasthan to the centre of the low-pressure area across north Madhya Pradesh, north Chhattisgarh and Odisha, is expected to trigger widespread rainfall across the state.
The IMD has issued a red warning for Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri, where isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely.
An orange warning has been issued for Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Balangir, Bargarh, Subarnapur (Sonepur), Boudh, Kandhamal, Ganjam and Gajapati, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected at isolated places.
A yellow warning for heavy rainfall has been sounded for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda.
The IMD has also warned that sea conditions are likely to remain rough to very rough along and off the Odisha coast from July 3 to July 7. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea during this period.
In view of the prevailing weather conditions, Local Cautionary Signal No. III (LC-III) has been hoisted at Paradip and Dhamra ports, the IMD said.
The weather office has advised residents, particularly those in the red and orange warning districts, to remain alert and follow official advisories as the low-pressure system is expected to strengthen further over the next 48 hours.