IMD warns thunderstorm, lightning, hail & heavy rainfall for several Odisha districts

Bhubaneswar, Mar 18  The IMD on Monday issued a warning that moderate thunderstorm activity with lightning, gusty surface winds, hail and heavy rainfall is likely to occur over several districts of Odisha from March 18 to March 20.
IMD sources said due to likely interaction of middle tropospheric westerly trough with lower level moisture laden winds from Bay of Bengal and above mentioned synoptic system, meteorological conditions becoming favourable for moderate thunderstorm activity with lightning, gusty surface wind and fairly widespread to widespread rainfall.
It has issued yellow warning to Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Dhenkanal where the thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts.
Thunderstorm with lightning is very likely at one or two places likely over districts of Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Angul, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sonepur and Boudh.
IMD said thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph and hail is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Bolangir Sonepur, Kalahandi, Boudh, Angul, Dhenkanal,Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jajpur .
It further said thunderstorms with lightning and heavy rainfall (7cm to 11cm) at one or two places likely over districts of Cuttack, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Khordha and Dhenkanal .
The IMD has already issued Yellow and Orange warnings for several districts during the next two days.
Meanwhile the Special Relief Commissioner ( SRC ) has issued advisory to collectors of districts under yellow and orange warning to keep administrative machinery ready to face any eventuality..
The people have been advised to keep watch on weather and take safe shelter during the thunderstorm activity to protect from lightning.
The Collectors were asked to submit a report on the damage, if it occurred due to thunderstorm, whirlwind, hailstorm, lightning immediately for information of the government.