IMD Issues Thunderstorm and Heat Warning for Several Odisha Districts

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued yellow and orange warnings for several districts in Odisha, forecasting thunderstorms, gusty winds and hot and humid conditions over the next few days.

According to the IMD forecast, hot and humid weather conditions are likely to prevail at one or two places on March 7 in coastal and adjoining districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati.

For March 8, the weather agency has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds with speeds reaching 30–40 kmph at isolated places in several districts such as Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda and Puri.

An orange warning has been issued for Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Sundargarh on March 8, where thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and stronger gusty winds of 40–50 kmph are likely at isolated places.

Meanwhile, yellow alerts have been issued for multiple districts including Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Kalahandi, where thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are also likely on March 8.

The IMD has further predicted thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface winds of 30–40 kmph at isolated places in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur on March 9.

Residents in the affected districts have been advised to remain alert and take necessary precautions during thunderstorms and periods of intense heat.