IMD Issues Yellow Alert for Odisha's Coastal Districts, Forecasts Heat and Storms
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow warning on Friday, indicating the prevalence of hot and humid conditions across 11 coastal districts of Odisha for the next two days, starting from Saturday. This alert comes alongside forecasts of light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorm activities in several districts over the next three days.
Districts Under Yellow Warning for Heat and Humidity
The districts affected by the yellow warning for hot and humid conditions include Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati. Residents in these areas are advised to take precautions against the sweltering weather, which is expected to persist due to upper air cyclonic circulation and a trough line over the state.
Thunderstorm and Rainfall Predictions
In addition to the heat alert, the IMD has forecast light to moderate rain or thunderstorm activities in multiple districts. An orange warning has been issued for thunderstorm activity accompanied by gusty surface winds in some districts on Sunday. The districts likely to witness such weather phenomena include Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Jajpur, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Puri, Rayagada, and Koraput.
Manorama Mohanty, head of the regional IMD centre in Bhubaneswar, stated that both the hot and humid conditions and the potential for rainfall and thunderstorms are expected to continue over the next three days. She also noted that day temperatures are likely to rise by 2°C to 3°C after this period.
Current Weather Conditions and Observations
These forecasts come as day temperatures have shown a slight increase in parts of the state this month. On Friday, Parlakhemundi recorded the highest temperature in the state at 37.8°C. Other areas, such as Titlagarh and Bhawanipatna, also experienced elevated mercury levels, reaching 37.5°C and 37°C, respectively. Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 34.7°C.
Additionally, the IMD report highlighted dense fog in Chandbali during the morning hours, indicating varied weather patterns across the region. The combination of rising temperatures and impending storm activities underscores the dynamic and potentially challenging weather conditions facing Odisha in the coming days.
Residents are urged to stay updated with the latest weather advisories and take necessary measures to protect themselves from both the heat and potential storm-related hazards.
