Bhubaneswar: As predicted by the IMD, several parts of Odisha experienced rains for more than an hour on Tuesday, bringing much relief to the rising daytime temperatures.
IMD sources indicate that moderate thunderstorm activity, along with lightning, gusty surface winds, hail, and heavy rainfall, is expected to occur over the districts of Odisha on May 19 and 20.
It stated that under the influence of the interaction of the middle tropospheric westerly trough with lower-level moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal, meteorological conditions are becoming favorable for moderate thunderstorm activity, lightning, gusty surface winds, and fairly widespread to widespread rainfall activity over the districts of Odisha during May 19 and 20.
People are advised to monitor the weather and take safe shelter during thunderstorm activity to protect themselves from lightning, and to follow traffic advisories in urban areas.
The IMD also issued an advisory stating that the harvesting of rabi crops may be regulated judiciously, and farmers are advised to use hail nets to protect vegetables and crops from hail.
Sources report that light to moderate rain occurred in many places over the districts of Odisha. The IMD has issued an orange warning for several districts in Odisha on Tuesday and Wednesday, stating that light to moderate rain or thunderstorms are very likely to occur in most places over the districts of Odisha.
It also warned that thunderstorms with lightning, gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 50-60 kmph, and hail are very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, and Jajpur.
Hail is also likely at one or two places over the districts of Nayagarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Sonepur, and Boudh, the IMD bulletin said.
Additionally, IMD also predicted thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall, ranging from 7cm to 11cm, at one or two places likely over the districts of Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Dhenkanal, and Jajpur.