Bhubaneswar, 09 May (H.S.): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorm activity across several parts of Odisha during the next 24 hours, with a low-pressure area likely to form over the southwest Bay of Bengal around May 11.

According to the latest weather bulletin, an upper air cyclonic circulation currently lies over the Gulf of Mannar and adjoining Sri Lanka. Under its influence, weather conditions are expected to become more active over eastern India, including Odisha.

The IMD has issued an Orange Warning for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Balasore and Bhadrak districts. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hailstorms and gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 50 to 60 kmph are very likely to occur at one or two places in these districts.

A Yellow Warning has also been issued for several other districts, including Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangapur, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.

The weather office said thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds of 40 to 50 kmph are likely at one or two places in these districts.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda