The well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal has moved west-northwestwards and intensified into a depression. It is now centred over the northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal off the South Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coasts, the IMD said in its latest bulletin.
The depression is very likely to continue moving nearly westwards and cross the South Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puri and Kalingapatnam, close to Gopalpur, around the morning of September 27, 2025.
This development has triggered widespread heavy rainfall across Odisha on Friday, with forecasts indicating continued very heavy to extremely heavy downpours through Saturday and tapering on Sunday.
Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, has emphasised the need for vigilance amid the evolving weather situation. In the past 24 hours, nine districts recorded very heavy rainfall, with Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district receiving the highest at 6.3 cm. Other affected areas include Chandbali in Bhadrak, Aul in Kendrapara, Binjharpur in Jajpur, Mahanga and Cuttack city in Cuttack, as well as locations in Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Rayagada, Nuapada, Bargarh, and Deogarh districts, where heavy to very heavy rain was reported.
IMD Warning for Odisha
For Friday (September 26), a red warning for scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall (with isolated extremely heavy falls) has been issued for Koraput, Malkangiri, and Kalahandi districts. An orange warning for heavy to very heavy rain applies to Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Balangir, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Khordha, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara. Yellow warnings for heavy rain, thunderstorms with lightning, and gusty winds (30-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph) are in place for the remaining districts, including Boudh, Sonepur, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj.
For Saturday (September 27), an orange warning persists for very heavy rainfall in Nabarangpur. Yellow warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorms with gusty winds (40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph) cover Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, and Nuapada, while other districts like Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sonepur, Boudh, Bolangir, Kandhamal, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj face thunderstorm and wind alerts at varying intensities.
On Sunday (September 28), rainfall intensity is expected to decrease, with yellow warnings for thunderstorms, lightning, and winds (30-40 kmph) limited to Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, and Keonjhar.
From September 29 to 30, the state is likely to see a respite with mostly dry weather and no major warnings. However, another low-pressure area is anticipated to form around October 1, potentially increasing rainfall. Heavy rain warnings have been issued for northern Odisha districts starting October 2, which could impact Dasara celebrations.
Authorities urge residents, especially in low-lying and coastal areas, to stay indoors, avoid waterlogged regions, and follow official advisories to mitigate risks of flooding, landslides, and disruptions.