Odisha Braces for Heavy Rain as Low Pressure Area Likely to Form Over Bay of Bengal

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to experience a spell of heavy to very heavy rainfall from August 12, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting the development of a Low Pressure Area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining regions.

According to the IMD’s latest evening bulletin issued on Monday, the weather system is expected to take shape around August 12 and could trigger widespread rainfall activity across parts of Odisha between August 12 and 14.

The weather office said an upper-air cyclonic circulation continues to persist over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas. The circulation extends up to around 7.6 km above mean sea level and is tilting southwestward with height.

The system is expected to intensify into a Low Pressure Area over the same region under its influence.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon trough remains active and is passing through Bikaner, Datia, the centre of the existing Low Pressure Area over north Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas, Daltonganj and Digha before extending southeastward into the east-central Bay of Bengal.

The trough currently extends up to about 1.5 km above mean sea level, the IMD said.

In view of the developing weather conditions, the IMD has issued a yellow warning for heavy rainfall at one or two places in several districts of Odisha, with the alert remaining in place until August 18.

A more severe orange warning has been issued for August 12, 13, 14 and 15, when heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated locations across the state.

Residents, particularly in vulnerable and low-lying areas, have been advised to remain alert as rainfall activity is expected to increase with the formation of the new weather system over the Bay of Bengal.