IMD Warns of Thunderstorms, Strong Winds Across Odisha; Orange Alert Issued for Several Districts

Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an Orange Alert for multiple districts in Odisha, warning of thunderstorms, lightning strikes and strong gusty winds over the coming days. The weather agency has also predicted widespread rain and thundershowers across the state as conditions remain favourable for the further advancement of the southwest monsoon.

According to the evening weather update issued by the IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, an upper-air cyclonic circulation over south Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining areas of Jharkhand and Odisha is influencing the prevailing weather pattern.

For the next 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms is expected in several parts of Odisha. The IMD has placed Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Gajapati districts under Orange Alert, forecasting thunderstorms with lightning and wind speeds reaching 50-60 kmph.

A Yellow Alert has been issued for many coastal and central districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack, where gusty winds of 40-50 kmph and thunderstorm activity are likely.

Weather conditions are expected to remain unsettled from June 2 to June 5, with rain and thundershowers continuing in many coastal, northern and southern districts. Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj are likely to remain under Orange Alert during this period, while several other districts may experience thunderstorms and gusty winds under Yellow Warning conditions. The IMD has also cautioned about hot and humid weather at isolated places along the coastal belt.

From June 5 onwards, rainfall activity is likely to become more concentrated over western and northern Odisha, particularly in districts such as Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri. No major weather warnings have been issued for the subsequent two days.

The IMD further stated that daytime temperatures across Odisha are likely to increase gradually by 2°C to 4°C over the next five days.

For Bhubaneswar and nearby areas, the forecast indicates a partly cloudy sky with chances of rain or thunderstorms. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 39°C, while the minimum temperature may remain close to 28°C.