Kalbaisakhi rain, lightning likely in Odisha districts from weekend: IMD

Relentless heat wave conditions and humidity may finally ease, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting Kalbaisakhi (Nor’wester) rains along with lightning across Odisha beginning this weekend. IMD issued an Orange Warning in some districts for tomorrow and a Yellow Warning from May 16 to May 19.

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In its evening bulletin, the IMD regional centre 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 hailstorms.”

According to the IMD, the current hot spell is very likely to break as thunderstorm activity intensifies from Saturday onward, thanks to the formation of a fresh trough over the region. The expected showers, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, will affect districts like Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Sundargarh.

Respite from heat & humidity likely

“The combination of rainfall and thunderstorms might help bring down both temperatures and humidity from Saturday through Tuesday,” an IMD official stated.

In the meantime, residents across several districts continue to endure stifling conditions. The heat wave condition is expected to persist in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar. Friday will see similar conditions in Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.

Notably, humidity levels remained high across coastal and central regions, with Balasore topping the list at 81%, followed by Paradip at 79%, Chandbali at 75%, Cuttack at 67%, and Bhubaneswar at 65%.

As of 2.30 PM today, Sambalpur recorded the highest Maximum (day) temperature of 41.4 Degrees Celsius, followed by Hirakud (40.5oC), Jharsuguda (40.4oC), Rourkela (39.2oC), and Bhubaneswar (38.6oC), respectively.

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As the State awaits the first round of pre-monsoon showers, the IMD advises residents to take necessary precautions, especially during thunderstorms and gusty winds.