Bhubaneswar: After dry days for a longer period, lightning struck with a bang in Odisha. Isolated places bordering the districts of Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Ganjam have recorded the first lightning in the evening hours today.
Similarly, an analysis by ECMWF shows that lightning at around 5:45 pm has been recorded at isolated places bordering the districts of Nayagarh, Khurdha and Cuttack.
As per the ECMWF data, lightning has been recorded around the Mahanadi river basin in the Cuttack district. And the lightning has been categorised as a cloud to ground. The lead weather agency put the lightning in the category of the strong slammer and the intensity of the current transferred has been measured at around 16 kA (kilo Ampere).
The lightning analysis of the ECMWF measured the lightning current in Ganjam and surrounding districts at 14kA. It termed the lightning there as 'cloud to the ground' and is a strong slammer type.
Bhubaneswar too has recorded one cloud to ground lightning flash at around 6:04 pm. The lightning has been a strong slammer type generating the highest current of 48 kA. The place has been traced to the west of Khandagiri - Chandaka road.
However, by 6:10 pm, the lightning activities subsided and have been categorised by the ECMWF as a medium roller with a current of below 14kA.
FORECAST TILL MARCH 30
As per the Global Ensemble Forecast (GEFS) by the Institute of Tropical Meteorology on the thunderstorm and lightning activities, the coastal districts in the State will witness intense T-storm for two consecutive days on March 28 and 29. The details are below.
March 28: The districts of Khordha, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsingpur, Bhadrak, Jajpur will record thunderstorm and lightning during the hours of 3 -9 pm. The warning is the wind will gust with a speed of over 46 kph.
March 29: As per the GEFS forecast, the districts of Cuttack, Khurdha, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara will witness thunderstorm and lightning activity during the evening hours of 3-9 pm. The wind gust may touch 46 kph, the forecast says.
WHY THUNDERSTORM TAKES CENTERSTAGE?
As per the IITM analysis, the Layer Mean Relative Humidity (LARH) has been predicted as moderate in the Bay of Bengal which carries the thunderstorm of low to moderate threat.
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