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A clearly defined low-pressure system over the southeastern Bay of Bengal and nearby Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Andaman Sea is expected to strengthen into a depression within the next six hours and subsequently evolve into a cyclonic storm within the following 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Saturday.
The system is expected to shift west-northwest and arrive at the west-central Bay of Bengal close to the Andhra Pradesh coast by the evening of November 2, according to the midday weather bulletin from the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar.
The meteorological department predicts light to moderate rain or thundershowers in some areas of Odisha in the next two days, featuring thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds at 30-40 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 50 kmph in isolated regions of various districts.
The IMD has announced an orange alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in isolated locations in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, and Ganjam on November 3 and 4. These areas are also expected to encounter thunderstorms with lightning and strong winds of 50-60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph.
An identical orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain and strong winds has been issued for those five districts on November 4 and 5. Intense rainfall is expected in scattered areas of Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Puri, Khordha, and Nayagada throughout this time.
On November 2, a yellow alert has been declared for thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds of 40-50 km/h, with gusts reaching 60 km/h, in Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Khordha. Other areas have also been warned about storms and strong winds.
Fishermen have been cautioned by the IMD against going into the sea along and off the Odisha coast from November 2 to 4 due to the expected squally weather with wind speeds of 60-70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph. Sea conditions are forecasted to stay extremely rough to high throughout the period.
At several locations in Odisha, light to moderate rain was observed during the 24 hours concluding at 8.30 am on Saturday. Ambabhona in Baragada, Baleshwar, Jamsolaghat, Oupada, and NH-5 Gobindpur experienced the maximum rainfall of 5 cm each.
Light fog was noted in a couple of areas in Bhubaneswar. The highest temperature reached 32.4 degrees Celsius at Paradeep, whereas Nayagarh noted the lowest minimum temperature of 17.6 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has predicted a mostly cloudy sky for Bhubaneswar and its vicinity, with chances of rain or thundershowers in the next 24 hours. The highest and lowest temperatures are expected to range between 32 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The meteorological department has recommended that individuals stay vigilant, remain indoors during storms, refrain from seeking refuge under trees, and disconnect electrical devices. It has advised against traveling in extreme weather conditions.
