Bhubaneswar: India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued orange and yellow warnings for several districts in Odisha, forecasting thunderstorms with lightning, gusty surface winds, and hail over the next four days.
Eight districts — Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Kendujhar, Sundargarh, and Angul — have been placed under orange alert for Friday. Seventeen other districts will remain under yellow warning for similar weather conditions.
"A trough line passing over the state is causing these weather conditions," said Manorama Mohanty, scientist and head of the regional IMD centre. She added that more districts are likely to experience such weather activity on Saturday.
In response to the IMD warning, the special relief commissioner (SRC) has directed district collectors to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions. The state has already witnessed significant rainfall in the past 24 hours. Chandbali and Angul recorded 18 mm and 10 mm rainfall respectively during the day, while Marshaghai in Kendrapara district received the highest rainfall of 54 mm in the last 24 hours.

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers are expected at many places across the state during this four-day period. The unseasonal rainfall has reportedly affected rabi crops and vegetables, with reports of damage to paddy at ‘mandis'. IMD continues to monitor the situation closely as more thunderstorm activities are expected in the days to come.