Heavy rains forecast in North Odisha in next 24 hrs

Bhubaneswar: The Met office has predicted heavy rainfall in North Odisha in the next 24 hours under the influence of a deep depression over Bay of Bengal.

Talking to OTV this afternoon, Director, Regional Meteorological Centre, Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu said the well marked low pressure which had centred over northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood yesterday, has concentrated into a deep depression and moved northwestwards and lay centred near Latitude 21.50 North and Longitude 88.50 East about 160 Km East off Balasore at about 8.30 AM today. The system is likely to move west-northwestwards and cross the West Bengal coast close to Digha by this evening.

Under its influence, rain or thunder shower is likely to occur at most places over North Odisha and many places over South Odisha with heavy to very heavy rainfall at one or two places over North Odisha during the next 24 hours, he said.

“Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea as surface wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph with a maximum of 65 kmph will prevail along and off the Odisha coast, making the condition of the sea rough to very rough and resulting in the rise of sea waves up to a height of 3-4 metres during the period,” Sahu said, adding that considering the wind speed, local Cautionary signal number-III (LC-III) has been hoisted at all ports in Odisha.