Bhubaneswar: Odisha may continue to experience Kalbaisakhi, a pre-monsoon storm, as a cyclonic circulation persists over the state, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Friday.
The weather agency has issued an orange warning for Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, and Balasore.
According to the midday bulletin, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and hail, along with gusty surface winds reaching 50-60 km/h, may affect isolated areas in these four districts until the morning of March 28. A similar warning remains in effect for Mayurbhanj district for the following 24 hours.
The IMD has issued an advisory, cautioning about potential damage to plantations, horticulture, and standing crops, as well as unsecured structures and kutcha houses due to strong winds. Residents are advised to monitor the weather, seek shelter during thunderstorms to protect against lightning, and adhere to traffic advisories in urban areas.
A yellow warning has also been issued for several districts of the state until April 2.
On March 27, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 km/h may occur in Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 km/h are also likely in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Angul, Boudh, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, and Deogarh.
On March 28, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 km/h may continue in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts.
On March 29, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 km/h are likely in Mayurbhanj, Koraput, and Malkangiri.
On March 30, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 km/h may occur in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, and Malkangiri.
On March 31, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 km/h are expected to impact Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Koraput, Malkangiri, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.
On April 1, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 km/h may persist in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Kalahandi.
On April 2, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 km/h are likely in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Koraput, Sundargarh, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Balangir, and Nabarangpur.
The IMD has forecast a further increase in daytime temperatures by 2-3°C after four days.
On Thursday, the first hailstorm of the year struck Bhubaneswar, accompanied by thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. The capital experienced intense rainfall along with frequent lightning, loud thunder, and strong gusty winds in the afternoon.
