Cyclonic circulation active over Bay of Bengal; Orange alert for thunderstorms till May 26: IMD

A cyclonic circulation is active over the Bay of Bengal (BoB), shifting from the southwest and adjoining southeast region to the west-central and nearby southeast areas. As a result, scattered small to medium cloud formations are now visible over the west-central and southwest Bay, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

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The IMD has not yet clarified how it will affect the Odisha districts in the coming days.

With an east-west trough running from Punjab to north Bangladesh, south Uttar Pradesh, south Bihar and north Gangetic West Bengal, the IMD forecasted that thunderstorm with lightning with surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are very likely to occur in Odisha districts till May 26.

IMD regional centre in Bhubaneswar issued Orange Warning in several districts for the next five days (except Tuesday) and Yellow Warning from May 19 to May 24.

In its mid-day bulletin, the IMD mentioned, “People are advised to keep watch on the weather and take safe shelter during the thunderstorm activity to protect themselves from lightning and follow traffic advisories in urban areas. Also, harvesting of crops may be regulated judicially, and farmers are advised to use hail nets to protect vegetables and crops from hail.”

Forecast and warning for next two days

For Monday (Valid up to 0830 hrs IST of 20.05.2025)

Light to moderate rain or thundershower is very likely to occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of Coastal Odisha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and dry weather is very likely to prevail over the rest districts of Odisha.

Orange Warning: (Be Prepared)-

Thunderstorm with lightning and surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, and Gajapati.

Yellow Warning: (Be Aware)-

Thunderstorm with lightning and surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph is very likely to occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, and Sambalpur.

Hot and humid conditions are very likely to prevail at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.

For Tuesday (Valid from 0830 hrs IST of 20.05.2025 to 0830 hrs IST of 21.05.2025)

Light to moderate rain or thundershower is very likely to occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of South Odisha, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh and dry weather is very likely to prevail over the rest districts of Odisha.

Yellow Warning: (Be Aware)-

Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph is very likely to occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places over the districts of Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhargarh, and Sundargarh.

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Hot and humid conditions are very likely to prevail at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.