Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Saturday issued warning of thunderstorm and lightning in several parts of the state for the next three days.
“Thunderstorm with lightning is very likely to occur at one or two places in the districts of Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara Bhadrak, Koraput, Gajapati and Kandhamal,” the IMD said in its warning for Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Capital city witnessed thundershower Saturday evening bringing the much needed relief to the denizens. The Met department reported an average rainfall of 3mm in the city. While Raj Bhawan received the highest average of 9.5 mm rain in the state capital, the KIIT University reported 8 mm. Cuttack reported 20 mm rainfall. The Norwester resulted in disruption in vehicular movement as visibility was affected by dark clouds and wind.
Isolated places bordering the districts of Rayagada, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Ganjam have recorded lightning in the evening hours.
While forecasting the weather for Sunday the department said, “Light to moderate rain or thundershower is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Koraput, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Khurda, and dry weather is very likely to prevail over the rest districts of Odisha.”
Similar warnings and forecast have been made by the department for the next two days. There was no warning issued for March 31 and there was no forecast of rains during the day. The department, however, in the long term forecast issued warning of heatwave condition April 1 and asked the authorities and people to be alert.
The weatherman has also issued warning for the fishermen and asked them not to venture into the sea between March 29 and 31. “Strong gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph is likely to prevail over northwest Bay of Bengal and along and off Odisha coast. The fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off Odisha coast and northwest Bay of Bengal during March 29 to 31,” the advisory said.
The department also said that the maximum temperature of 40.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in Boudh Saturday while the minimum temperature of 18 degrees C was recorded in Phulbani.
The IMD also said that Bhubaneswar might see partly cloudy sky Sunday. “Partly cloudy sky with possibility of development of thunder/lightning is expected. Maximum and minimum temperatures are very likely to be around 38°C and 25°C respectively,” the department said.