Bhubaneswar: Incessant rains lashed most parts of Odisha under the influence of a low pressure area formed over the over the northwest Bay of Bengal off north Odisha-West Bengal. According to met department sources, the low pressure is active and its effect will be seen for the next 24 hours resulting in heavy rains in many places.
Sambalpur has recorded the highest rainfall of 240 mm in the past 24 hours, while Hirakud received 169 mm rainfall.
Meanwhile, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Khurda continue to be pounded by rains.
“As the low pressure system is not moving rapidly, we expect rainfall to continue for the next 24 hours. Especially, the lower Mahanadi catchment areas are likely to receive more rainfall. If the low pressure area moves towards the land mass then rainfall will subside. If it remains stationary as it has done in the past 24 hours, then it will result in heavy rainfall in lower Mahanadi river, Rusikulya river, and even in lower Brahmani river areas,” Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director, Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, told OTV.
As per a Met release this afternoon, yesterday’s low pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast lay static over the same area at 8.30 AM today with the associated upper air cyclonic circulation extends up to the mid-troposheric level.
Besides, the other low pressure area over north Chhattisgarh and neighbourhood has become less marked.
Under its influence, widespread rainfall will occur at most places over Odisha while heavy to very heavy rainfall will to occur at one or two places over with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places over interior districts of Odisha during next 24 hours.
The fishermen have been advised to be cautious while venturing into the sea in the coastal pockets as surface wind from northwest direction with speed reaching 35-45 kmph with a gusting up to 55 kmph will result in the rise of high tide up to 3-4 metres, the release added.