Weather Alert / Odisha Braces for Heavy Rainfall until Mid-August

Bhubaneswar, Aug 5: Odisha is bracing for an extended spell of heavy rainfall as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued multiple alerts across the state.

Starting Wednesday, rainfall intensity is expected to increase, with widespread showers continuing until August 8. While rainfall may reduce in parts of the state after August 8, several districts are likely to experience heavy downpours until August 10, keeping the state under persistent wet conditions.

In the next 24 hours, Mayurbhanj district has been placed under an Orange Alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Also read: Odisha Defies Heatwave Odds: 40-Plus Heat Alert Days, Yet Just 2 Deaths Despite 143 Heatstroke Cases

Thirteen other districts — including Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Keonjhar, Nuapada, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh — are under a Yellow Alert for thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain.

The remaining 17 districts are also expected to witness thunderstorms and heavy showers, with wind speeds ranging between 30-40 kmph.

Meteorologists have predicted that by August 7, a cyclonic circulation may form over the west-central Bay of Bengal near north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts.

This system is likely to intensify into a low-pressure area by August 9-10, triggering heavier rainfall across southern and coastal Odisha. As a result, districts in southern Odisha are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall until August 12, after which rainfall activity may shift towards central and western Odisha.

The IMD has warned that the system could keep the state under rainfall influence until August 13-15.

Officials have highlighted that unlike the previous low-pressure system which affected northern Odisha, this time southern districts will bear the brunt of the rains.

District administrations in southern Odisha have already begun preparations, issuing alerts to officials and stocking relief materials to tackle possible flooding and disruptions.

With continuous rainfall expected over the next 10 days, authorities have urged residents to remain cautious, especially in vulnerable areas.