Thunderstorms, Gusty Winds to Lash Odisha for a Week; IMD Issues Alerts

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to witness an extended spell of unstable weather over the next week, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting widespread thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and intermittent rainfall across the state. An Orange warning has been issued for the first 24 hours, followed by Yellow alerts for the remaining period.

The Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar said the conditions are being driven by a trough stretching from South Odisha to the Gulf of Mannar, which is expected to trigger rain, hailstorms and a noticeable dip in temperatures across several districts.

Under the Day 1 (May 1–2) Orange alert, districts including Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada and Malkangiri are likely to experience thunderstorms with lightning, hail and winds reaching 50–60 kmph. Other parts of the state will remain under Yellow warning with slightly lower wind speeds.

The unsettled weather is expected to continue through Day 2 and Day 3, affecting southern, coastal and interior regions. Districts such as Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Ganjam and Gajapati are likely to see thunderstorms with winds up to 40–50 kmph.

From Day 4 (May 4–5), rainfall activity is expected to shift towards western and northern districts, including Sundargarh and Sambalpur, while southern regions may continue to experience thunderstorms.

By Day 5 (May 5–6), the system is likely to expand again, bringing widespread thunderstorm and rainfall activity across most parts of the state under Yellow warning.

During Day 6 and Day 7 (May 6–8), the intensity is expected to ease slightly, though scattered thunderstorms and light to moderate rain may persist in several areas, with wind speeds ranging between 30–50 kmph.

The IMD has advised residents to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid sheltering under trees, and keep away from water bodies and electrical installations. Farmers have been urged to plan harvesting carefully and adopt protective measures such as hail nets.

Fishermen have been cautioned against venturing into the sea along and off the Odisha coast from May 1 to May 4 due to squally winds and rough sea conditions.

The weather department also noted a drop of 4–6°C in maximum temperatures in parts of coastal and northern Odisha, with a further slight decline expected in the coming days.