Bhubaneswar: A new low-pressure area forming over the Bay of Bengal could develop into a depression, leading to significant rainfall across Odisha starting Wednesday, coinciding with the Durga Puja festivities, according to the IMD. The low pressure emerged over the west-central Bay of Bengal around 5:30 PM, as stated in a bulletin on Tuesday evening. It is expected to move northwest and strengthen into a depression over the west-central and nearby northwest Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 2, crossing the south Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coasts by the morning of October 3. For Tuesday, heavy rainfall (Yellow alert) is predicted at one or two locations in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal districts.
Thunderstorms with lightning and wind speeds of 30-40 km/h are anticipated in coastal, adjoining, and northern districts, including Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur. The rainfall intensity may increase in subsequent days, with heavy showers (Yellow alert) expected at one or two locations in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal, alongside wind speeds of 40-50 km/h in warning districts. An Orange Warning for very heavy rainfall (7 cm-20 cm) has been issued for one or two places in Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Kandhamal for October 2. Thunderstorms with lightning are expected throughout most of Odisha, while coastal and other districts may see wind speeds of up to 40-50 km/h.
Additionally, 12 districts, including Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, and Cuttack, may experience heavy rainfall (Yellow alert). Sea conditions are forecasted to be moderate to rough along and off Odisha’s coasts and over the north and central Bay of Bengal. Fishermen are advised against venturing into the sea during this time, and those already at sea are urged to return to the coast by evening.