Bhubaneswar, Jul 14: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Odisha as a low-pressure system is expected to form over the north Bay of Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coast within the next 24 hours.

Currently, a cyclonic circulation is active over the region, extending up to 7.6 km above sea level and tilting northwestward. Under its influence, a low-pressure area is likely to develop soon, bringing widespread rain across the state.

The IMD has warned of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall for four days, with a red alert in Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, and Bhadrak districts where rainfall may exceed 20 cm.

Also read: Cyclonic Circulation Triggers Heavy Rain Alerts across Odisha

An orange warning has been issued for 10 districts — Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Khordha, Puri, Cuttack, Balasore, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar — forecasting rainfall between 12 cm and 20 cm.

Seven districts — Rayagada, Kandhamal, Boudh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, and Sundargarh — are under a yellow warning for heavy rainfall.

On July 15, Jagatsinghpur will remain under red alert, while Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Khordha, Cuttack, Puri, Nayagarh, and Keonjhar will face orange warnings.

Several other districts including Rayagada, Ganjam, Gajapati, Boudh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Deogarh, and Sundargarh will be under yellow warning.

The IMD has also cautioned fishermen against venturing into the sea between July 14 and 18, as squally weather with wind speeds of 45-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, is expected along the Odisha coast.

Since June 1, Odisha has recorded 354.7 mm of rainfall, which is 4 per cent above the normal average of 345.5 mm. In the past 24 hours, heavy rainfall was reported in 13 districts, with Kendrapara’s Rajnagar recording the highest at 155 mm.