Bhubaneswar, 14 June (H.S.): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday forecast further advancement of the southwest monsoon into additional parts of Odisha over the next four to five days, supported by favorable atmospheric conditions, including a low-pressure system and increased moisture inflow across the region.

In its midday weather bulletin, the IMD stated that the monsoon is also likely to extend into more areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and southern Chhattisgarh during the same period.

As monsoon activity intensifies, the weather agency has issued an Orange Warning for several districts, including Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal, and Koraput. These areas are expected to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, gusty surface winds reaching 50–60 kmph, and heavy rainfall at isolated locations.

Similar thunderstorm activity with winds of 50–60 kmph is likely in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Rayagada, and Malkangiri districts.

The IMD has also issued a Yellow Warning for Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh districts. These areas may witness thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph at isolated places.

In addition, hot and humid weather conditions are expected to persist at isolated locations in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh between June 15 and June 17.

The weather department has urged residents to remain vigilant during thunderstorm activity, avoid open spaces during lightning strikes, and follow advisories issued by local authorities.

With monsoon conditions strengthening, several parts of Odisha are likely to receive increased rainfall in the coming days, bringing a gradual transition from prevailing summer weather to a more active monsoon pattern.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda