Thunderstorm Alert in Odisha: IMD Issues Orange Warning for Six Districts

Bhubaneswar: With unstable weather conditions intensifying across Odisha, the India Meteorological Department has sounded an Orange alert for six districts, warning of severe thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, and strong winds on Tuesday.

The weather office has forecast that Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Kandhamal, Ganjam, and Gajapati districts may witness intense thunderstorm activity, particularly during the afternoon and evening hours, with gusty winds likely to reach speeds of 50–60 kmph at isolated locations.

Several other districts have been placed under a Yellow warning, where heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and winds of 40–50 kmph is expected. These include Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh.

Meanwhile, light to moderate thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 30–40 kmph are likely in parts of western and interior Odisha, including Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, and Nabarangpur.

Advising caution, the IMD has urged residents to stay indoors during adverse weather, avoid open spaces and water bodies, and secure loose items. Farmers have also been advised to defer fieldwork and take protective measures during the warning period.