Intense rainfall batters Odisha alongside fresh severe weather warnings issued

Odisha continues to experience relentless showers, with several districts recording exceptional precipitation over the past 24 hours. Weather authorities have issued strict warnings for continued intense showers across northern and western regions until tomorrow morning.

Ganjam district witnessed unprecedented downpours, leading the state's daily rainfall charts by a significant margin. Patrapur recorded an astounding 546.0 mm of rain, followed closely by Sorada at 503.8 mm. Other regions also saw extreme weather, with G. Udaygiri in Kandhamal receiving 462.4 mm and Mahendragarh in Gajapati registering 458.8 mm. Meteorological data confirms that 15 individual stations experienced extremely heavy rainfall, 21 recorded very heavy showers, and 71 stations reported heavy rainfall statewide. State capital Bhubaneswar received 27.9 mm of rain, while neighboring Kataka (Cuttack)  recorded 39.4 mm during the same period.

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Red and orange warnings escalated

Forecasters have elevated the threat level for several northern and western districts. Bargarh, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh currently face a severe red warning for scattered heavy to very heavy precipitation, coupled with isolated extremely heavy rain. Residents in these locations must prepare for potential waterlogging and localized transport disruptions. Simultaneously, an orange alert remains active for Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Bhadrak due to expected heavy to very heavy showers. Multiple other districts, including Khordha, Puri, and Cuttack, remain under a yellow watch for isolated heavy rain and thunderstorms with lightning strikes. Surface winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph, gusting up to 50 kmph, are anticipated along the coastal belt.

Temperature fluctuations forecasted

Despite the ongoing heavy rains, daytime heat levels are projected to increase shortly. Meteorologists predict a clear rise in maximum temperatures by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the next two days, with no significant changes anticipated afterward. Nighttime minimum temperatures will remain largely stable for the next six to seven days across all districts. Currently, Boudh holds the highest maximum temperature at 31.3 degrees Celsius. Nayagarh recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the plains at 18.0 degrees Celsius, while G. Udayagiri marked 19.0 degrees Celsius in the hilly regions. This localized weather pattern reflects the volatile nature of atmospheric conditions over the region, deeply impacting daily agricultural and urban life across Odisha.