IMD Issues 5-Day Odisha Rain Warning With Thunderstorm Alert

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

India Meteorological Department issued a five-day yellow warning for Odisha.
Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds may continue till May 18.
Coastal and northern districts are expected to witness the maximum impact.

Bhubaneswar: The regional centre of the India Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued a five-day yellow warning for multiple districts across Odisha, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds till the morning of May 18.

According to the latest weather bulletin, several parts of the state are likely to experience afternoon and evening thunderstorms accompanied by wind speeds reaching up to 50 kmph in some districts.

The alert comes as Odisha enters a period of unstable pre-monsoon weather activity, which often brings sudden rain spells, lightning strikes and strong winds across coastal and interior regions.

Odisha Rain Warning Issued for Multiple Districts

On Day 1, districts including Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Balasore and Sundargarh are expected to witness thunderstorms with gusty winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph.

Several other districts, including Cuttack, Puri, Khurda and Ganjam, may experience lightning and winds between 30 and 40 kmph.

Light to moderate rainfall is also likely across north Odisha, south coastal Odisha and southern districts such as Koraput and Malkangiri.

Thunderstorm Activity Likely to Continue Till May 18

The IMD forecast indicates that thunderstorm activity will continue across different parts of Odisha over the next five days.

Coastal districts are expected to remain under repeated weather alerts between May 14 and May 18, while northern and interior districts may witness intermittent rainfall and gusty winds.

Districts including Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Nayagarh and Gajapati are expected to remain vulnerable during multiple phases of the warning period.

The second-order effect of prolonged thunderstorm activity could include disruptions to transport, local power outages and crop damage in vulnerable agricultural regions.

Day 2 Forecast (May 14 to May 15)

Districts under 40-50 kmph wind alert:

Balasore
Bhadrak
Jajpur
Kendrapara
Keonjhar
Mayurbhanj

Districts under 30-40 kmph wind alert:

Angul
Dhenkanal
Cuttack
Puri
Jagatsinghpur
Khurda
Nayagarh
Ganjam
Gajapati

Day 3 Forecast (May 15 to May 16)

Higher wind activity is likely in:

Puri
Khurda
Ganjam
Gajapati

Moderate thunderstorm activity is expected in:

Mayurbhanj
Sundargarh
Rayagada
Koraput
Malkangiri
Balasore
Bhadrak
Kendrapara
Angul
Kandhamal

Day 4 and Day 5 Forecast

The yellow warning will continue for:

Balasore
Bhadrak
Jajpur
Kendrapara
Cuttack
Jagatsinghpur
Puri
Khurda
Nayagarh
Ganjam
Gajapati
Mayurbhanj
Keonjhar

Why Odisha Is Seeing Repeated Thunderstorm Activity

Weather experts say Odisha experiences frequent thunderstorm activity during the pre-monsoon season due to intense surface heating and moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.

These systems can quickly intensify during afternoon and evening hours, leading to sudden lightning strikes, gusty winds and short-duration heavy rain.

The second-order effect could include:

Localised flooding in low-lying areas
Temporary power disruptions
Crop damage in vulnerable districts
Traffic and transport disruptions

Why Pre-Monsoon Thunderstorms Are Intensifying

Meteorologists say Odisha frequently experiences strong convective weather systems during the pre-monsoon period due to rising temperatures and moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal.

These systems can rapidly intensify during afternoon hours, leading to sudden thunderstorms, lightning and short-duration heavy rainfall.

The recurring yellow warnings also underline increasing weather variability across eastern India, where extreme localised weather events have become more frequent in recent years.

IMD Advises Caution During Lightning and Gusty Winds

The IMD has advised residents in affected districts to remain cautious during thunderstorm activity, especially in open fields and coastal areas.

People have been urged to avoid sheltering under trees during lightning activity and to stay indoors whenever severe weather develops.

While no red or orange alert has been issued so far, authorities are expected to continue monitoring the evolving weather pattern closely over the coming days.

Also Read | Udhayanidhi Stalin Revives Sanatana Dharma Debate in Tamil Nadu Assembly

You May Like

Trending Searches Today |

Amazon Online Shopping

Bestseller #1