The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar has issued a yellow warning for 17 districts of Odisha, forecasting the likelihood of Nor’wester (Kalbaisakhi) storms on Tuesday.
The alert includes the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, with wind speeds expected to reach 40–50 kmph during the afternoon and evening hours.
The districts under warning are Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Sonepur, Boudh, Sundargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, and Gajapati. Residents in these areas have been advised to remain cautious, especially those working in open or vulnerable locations, due to the potential safety hazards posed by sudden weather changes.
The weather office also noted that a cyclonic circulation is currently active over the Bay of Bengal, having shifted from the southwest and adjoining southeast region to the west-central and nearby southeast Bay. Additionally, an east-west trough is extending from Punjab to north Bangladesh, traversing south Uttar Pradesh, south Bihar, and north Gangetic West Bengal.
In light of these developments, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms with lightning and surface wind speeds reaching 40–50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, across Odisha until May 26. The IMD has also issued an orange warning for several districts for the next five days, excluding Tuesday, and a yellow warning from May 19 to May 24.
