Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange warning for Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj and yellow warnings for 19 other districts of Odisha as an active cyclonic circulation persists over the northwest Bay of Bengal.
Immediate forecast and warnings
The Regional Centre of the IMD said heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places in Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj. The districts under the yellow watch may receive 7–11 cm of rain at one or two places, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, the forecast added.
The IMD also reported that the existing cyclonic circulation is expected to trigger the formation of a fresh low-pressure area along the West Bengal–north Odisha coast on August 29, which could extend rainfall across the state.
Districts listed under warnings
The weather department named the two districts under the higher alert and listed the following districts under the yellow warning. Officials and residents in these areas have been put on notice to monitor developments closely.
- Orange: Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj
- Yellow: Sundaragada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Debagada, Anugola, Boudhagada, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kataka, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Baleshwar (and others reported within the 19-district list)
| Warning level | Expected conditions |
|---|---|
| Orange | Heavy to very heavy rain at one or two places |
| Yellow | Moderate to heavy rain (about 7–11 cm) at one or two places with thunderstorms/lightning |
Context and likely developments
The IMD assessment links the current rainfall activity to an active cyclonic circulation centred over the northwest Bay of Bengal. Forecast models cited by the weather office indicate this circulation could concentrate into a low-pressure area along the West Bengal–north Odisha coast on August 29. If a low-pressure area forms, the state can expect a fresh spell of intensified rainfall and associated hazards, particularly along the north coastal belt.
Rainfall persistence in the coming days may complicate ongoing flood management and relief operations in areas still recovering from earlier spells of heavy rain. Rivers and low-lying zones should be watched for rising water levels as additional rain is received.
Precautions and advisory
The IMD warnings constitute an advisory to state and district authorities and the public. Residents in affected districts should take the following standard precautions:
- Stay updated with regular IMD bulletins and follow local administration instructions.
- Avoid non-essential travel during periods of heavy rain; expect waterlogging and poor visibility on roads.
- Keep emergency kits, medicines and important documents in waterproof covers and move to higher ground if in low-lying or flood-prone areas.
- Secure loose outdoor items and avoid standing under trees or near electric poles during thunderstorms and lightning.
- Electronic and communication services may be disrupted locally—plan accordingly and ensure phone devices are charged.
District administrations are likely to keep local disaster response teams and relief centres on alert. The IMD alert should be treated as a warning where specified (orange) and a watch where specified (yellow); residents in orange-warning districts should prepare for short-duration, intense rainfall events.
The IMD region that issued the advisory emphasised close monitoring of the evolving low-pressure area over the next 24–72 hours. Further upgrades or downgrades to warnings will follow additional observations and model guidance.
This report is based on the Regional Centre IMD advisory and district-level warning lists published in regional reporting.
