Heavy rains battered several parts of Odisha under the influence of by a low-pressure system over the northwestern Bay of Bengal, prompting the IMD to issue a ‘red warning’ for five districts on Sunday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that the weather system will continue to bring heavy downpours in several districts of Odisha till August 26.
Several areas across the state experienced heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours till 8:30 AM today, with at least two places recording over 200 mm of rainfall.
The IMD issued a ‘red warning’ (take action) for heavy rain in Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur districts.
The weather office said Thuamula Rampur in Kalahandi district received extreme heavy rainfall of 345 mm, while Kashipur in Rayagada district recorded 212 mm.
Additionally, nineteen other places registered rainfall between 100 mm and 200 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, it said.
According to the IMD, the upper air cyclonic circulation off the West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts intensified into a low-pressure system around 5:30 AM on Sunday.
An ‘orange’ warning (be prepared to take action) was issued for Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sonepur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, and Rayagada districts for Sunday.
Similarly, ‘yellow warning’ (be aware) has been issued for Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts.
The IMD said that similar weather conditions are expected to persist the state until August 26.
Squally weather with wind speeds between 40 and 60 kmph is anticipated over the Bay of Bengal as well as off the coasts of West Bengal and adjoining Odisha till Monday.
Keeping in view the rough sea conditions, fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea along the Odisha coast till August 24.
