IMD Issues Heavy Rainfall Alerts as Low Pressure Forms Over Bay of Bengal
Bhubaneswar: A well-marked low pressure area has formed over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, extending across the north Andhra Pradesh–south Odisha coasts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday. The system is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression within the next 12 hours, before crossing the south Odisha–north Andhra Pradesh coasts around forenoon of August 19, 2025.
Under its influence, several districts of Odisha are expected to witness very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds over the next few days.
Red, Orange, and Yellow Alerts Issued
•Red warning (August 19): Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangapur districts are likely to see isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls, accompanied by thunderstorms and winds of 30–40 kmph.
•Orange warning (August 19): Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Kandhamal may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorms and gusty winds.
•Yellow warning (August 19): Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface winds are likely across Ganjam, Nayagarh, Boudh, Balangir, Nuapada, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Sonepur.
Extended Forecast
•August 20: Heavy rainfall is likely in Nabarangapur, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Balangir, and Rayagada (yellow warning). Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds may also occur in coastal and several western districts.
•August 21–22: Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are expected in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati (yellow alert).
•August 23: Heavy rainfall is likely in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Sundargarh.
The IMD has urged people in affected districts to remain cautious of flash floods, waterlogging, and landslides in hilly regions, while fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea.
