TV
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed three southern Odisha districts under a red warning for Monday, signalling the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall. The warning comes a day after the formation of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which is likely to further intensify into a depression.
According to a bulletin issued by the weather department, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Nabarangpur are expected to witness intense downpours, with rainfall measuring up to 20 cm at isolated places, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty surface winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph.
Heavy Rain Forecast for Three Districts
According to the IMD’s regional meteorological centre in Bhubaneswar, the three districts may face very heavy to exceptionally heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.
The intensity of the showers has raised the possibility of flooding in low-lying areas, waterlogging in urban pockets and disruption of road communication, especially in interior blocks and hilly regions.
Orange Alert for Gajapati, Rayagada, and Kalahandi
Apart from the red warning districts, the IMD has issued an orange warning for Gajapati, Rayagada, and Kalahandi. These areas are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, which could lead to swollen rivers and localised flash floods.
ALSO READ: Schools shut, connectivity snapped in Odisha’s Malkangiri as rains submerge NH-326, bridges
Yellow Warning Across Remaining Districts
A yellow alert has been declared for most other districts in Odisha, including several coastal and central regions, where heavy showers may occur at one or two locations. While the intensity is expected to be less compared to the southern belt, the IMD has cautioned that thunderstorms and lightning remain a threat.
Rain to Continue Till August 20
The weather office has forecast that the current spell of rain will persist across the state until the morning of August 20. This phase of heightened rainfall is being driven by a low-pressure system that formed over the Bay of Bengal between north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coast. The system is likely to intensify into a depression, sustaining widespread showers across Odisha in the coming days.
