IMD Issues Thunderstorm Alert for Odisha; Heatwave to Persist in Interior Districts
Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued a midday weather bulletin warning of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds across several districts of Odisha, even as heatwave conditions are expected to continue in isolated parts of the western and interior regions.
According to the IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, a trough at 0.9 km above mean sea level extends from north Bihar to south Chhattisgarh across Jharkhand and interior Odisha. Additionally, an upper-air cyclonic circulation lies over north coastal Odisha and its neighbourhood at 1.5 km above mean sea level, influencing the prevailing weather conditions in the state.
Over the past 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall was recorded at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Rayagada districts. The highest rainfall of 3 cm each was reported from Chandua Kuliana, Baripada, Betanati, and Suliapada in Mayurbhanj. The rest of the state largely experienced dry weather.
Day temperatures rose by around 2°C at a few places in interior Odisha. The highest maximum temperature of 43.7°C was recorded at Titilagarh, while the lowest minimum temperature of 21.6°C was registered at Jagatsinghpur and Rayagada.
Forecast and Warnings (till 8:30 AM IST, April 18):
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain or thundershowers at one or two places across northern, coastal, and southern districts, including Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Koraput, Rayagada, and Sundargarh.
Under a Yellow Warning (Be Aware), thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40–50 kmph are very likely during afternoon or evening hours over Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, and Balasore. Similar conditions with wind speeds of 30–40 kmph are expected across several other districts in coastal, southern, and western Odisha.
Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail at isolated places in Balangir, Kalahandi, and Sambalpur, with warm night conditions also expected in parts of western Odisha. Coastal districts are likely to experience hot and humid weather.
The IMD said light to moderate rainfall activity will continue over coastal and southern districts till April 20, shifting towards Koraput and Malkangiri from April 21 onwards. Heatwave conditions are expected to persist over western and interior districts, including Sundargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, and Sambalpur, through April 21. Coastal areas are likely to experience hot and humid conditions for most of the week.
Maximum temperatures across the state are likely to rise by 2–3°C over the next 24 hours, with no significant change thereafter.
For Bhubaneswar and adjoining areas, the IMD has predicted a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of rain or thundershowers over the next 24 hours. Day and night temperatures are expected to hover around 36°C and 27°C, respectively.
