Cloudy Skies Blanket Odisha; Light Rain and Thunderstorms Likely in Several Areas

Bhubaneswar: Large parts of Odisha woke up to dense cloud cover on Friday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting overcast conditions across several districts of the state.

Observations recorded at 8:30 am showed that the skies over Bhubaneswar, Chandbali, Puri and Paradip were completely covered with clouds, registering the maximum cloud cover of 8 oktas. Other locations, including Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Sambalpur and Rourkela, reported 7 oktas, indicating extensive cloudiness. Hirakud and Balasore recorded 6 oktas, while Gopalpur witnessed comparatively lower cloud cover at 5 oktas.

Meteorologists noted that coastal and northern Odisha are currently under thick cloud formations, while southern coastal regions are experiencing moderate cloud activity. The prevailing weather pattern is expected to keep skies largely overcast through the day.

The IMD has indicated that these conditions may trigger light rainfall and isolated thundershowers in several parts of the state, bringing relief from daytime heat in some areas.

For weather observations, cloud cover is measured using the “okta” scale, which divides the sky into eight equal sections. A reading of 1 okta means one-eighth of the sky is covered by clouds, whereas 8 oktas signifies complete cloud cover, resulting in fully overcast conditions.

Weather officials continue to monitor the situation and have advised residents to stay updated on local forecasts, particularly in areas prone to thunderstorms.