The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange warning for several districts in Odisha, forecasting thunderstorms with lightning, hail, and strong winds over the next three days.
A trough stretching from Gangetic West Bengal to south Tamil Nadu, combined with an upper air cyclonic circulation over north Odisha, is driving unstable weather across the state. Light to moderate rainfall has already been recorded, with squally winds reaching 56 kmph in Bhubaneswar and 83 kmph in Jharsuguda.
The IMD placed Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, and Bhadrak under orange warning until March 29 morning, predicting wind speeds of 50–60 kmph at isolated places. A yellow warning covers Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, and Nayagarh, where winds may reach 40–50 kmph. Coastal districts, including Cuttack, Puri, and Khurda, may see winds of 30–40 kmph along with lightning activity.
Authorities cautioned that strong winds could damage standing crops, banana plantations, and weak structures. Residents have been advised to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid sheltering under trees, and keep away from water bodies and electrical conductors.
For fishermen, the IMD issued a specific advisory against venturing into the sea along and off the north Odisha coast on March 28 due to rough conditions and squally winds up to 60 kmph.
In Bhubaneswar, partly cloudy skies with possible rain or thunderstorms are expected in the next 24 hours, with temperatures around 36°C (maximum) and 21°C (minimum). The IMD forecast no significant change in maximum temperatures for three days, followed by a gradual rise of 2–3°C.
