Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Aug 30: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported on Friday that the low-pressure area over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha, has become more pronounced. It is expected to move west-northwest towards the coasts of north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha and is likely to intensify into a depression over the Bay of Bengal within the next 36 hours.
As a result, Odisha may experience widespread light to moderate rainfall throughout the week. The IMD has issued a warning for isolated extremely heavy rainfall on August 30 and very heavy rainfall on August 31.
Forecast Details:
Red Warning: Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20 cm) and extremely heavy rainfall (>20 cm) is expected in Malkangiri, Koraput, and Gajapati districts over the next 24 hours.
Heavy Rainfall: Expected in Rayagada, Ganjam, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi, with rainfall between 7 and 11 cm. Other areas including Nuapada, Balangir, Boudh, Kandhamal, Sonepur, Bargarh, Nayagarh, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack, and Jagatsinghpur may also receive significant rainfall.
The heavy rains could cause flash floods, waterlogging in low-lying areas, inundation of agricultural fields, and mudslides in hilly regions. There may also be damage to kutcha roads, collapse of vulnerable kutcha houses, waterlogging in underpass roads, and reduced visibility leading to traffic congestion in urban areas. Additionally, river water levels are expected to rise significantly.
