Low-Pressure over Bay Triggers Heavy Rainfall in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Sept 2 : A low-pressure area (LOPAR) formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal on Monday, leading to widespread heavy rainfall across Odisha, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The system developed under the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation over the northeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Myanmar coast. The low pressure is likely to become more marked in the next 24 hours and move west-northwestwards across Odisha in the following day.

Hatadihi in Keonjhar district recorded the state’s highest rainfall at 23 cm, followed by Balasore and Ghasipura (13 cm each), Thuamul Rampur (13 cm), NH-5 Gobindpur (12 cm), and Anandpur (10 cm). Several other areas, including Chilika, Akhuapada, Berhampur, Bahanga, Bhograi, Chitrakonda, Baripada, Kankadahad, Nilgiri, and Bonth, also received heavy showers.

The IMD has issued a red warning for Deogarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Jharsuguda districts, predicting scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy showers, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 30–40 kmph on Tuesday.

Additionally, a yellow warning has been issued for several districts for the next five days, forecasting heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning accompanied by winds up to 40 kmph till September 6.

The IMD also cautioned of squally weather with wind speeds of 40–50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, along and off the Odisha coast and over the north and west-central Bay of Bengal on September 2 and 3. Sea conditions are expected to remain rough to very rough, and fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea in these regions.