Heavy rain forecast in Baleshwar, Bhadrak
Bhubaneswar: The IMD on Wednesday forecast extremely heavy rainfall in flood-hit Baleshwar and Bhadrak districts, forecasting intense downpour across the State under the influence of a low-pressure area formed over the Bay of Bengal.
The weather agency said the system is likely to intensify into a depression over the next 24 hours. A depression is a weather system stronger than a low-pressure area but less intense than a tropical cyclone. In view of the intensity of the system, the IMD issued a red alert, advising authorities to “take action” for extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places in Baleshwar and Bhadrak districts till 8.30 am on Thursday.
Extremely heavy rainfall, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) terminology, means rainfall exceeding 20 cm, a senior scientist at the meteorological centre in Bhubaneswar said. The IMD also issued an orange alert (be prepared to take action) for heavy to very heavy rainfall in eight districts — flood-hit Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kataka, Anugola, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj and Dhenkanal — till Thursday morning. According to the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Director, Manorama Mohanty, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and wind, reaching speed of 30-40 kmph, are also very likely in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Sundaragada, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Debagada, Anugola and Jagatsinghpur districts.
In its special bulletin, the IMD said, “It (the low pressure area) is likely to become a well-marked low pressure area during the next 12 hours. Thereafter, it is likely to concentrate into a depression and move northwestwards across West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh coasts during the subsequent 24 hours.” Mohanty said the low-pressure area had formed over the north Bay of Bengal off the West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts at 5.30 am under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas.
She said Odisha could experience rainfall activity over the next five to six days. The IMD said squally weather, with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph and occasionally gusting to 60 kmph, was very likely along and off the Odisha coast till August 15.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea till August 15, the bulletin said.
The weather agency also warned of flooding of roads, waterlogging in low-lying areas and closure of underpasses, mainly in urban areas. Heavy rainfall could also lead to occasional reduction in visibility and disruption of traffic in major cities. The possibility of heavy rainfall till August 17 could also lead to riverine flooding in some catchments, the IMD added.