Bhubaneswar: A “Red Warning” has been issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) due to thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph, as well as scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely severe rains.

Within the next 24 hours, one or two areas in the districts of Odisha are predicted to see this extreme weather.

The “Red Warning” is specifically applicable to the districts of Jagatsinghpur and Puri, where there is a high likelihood of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, according to the IMD’s mid-day weather advisory.

An “Orange Warning” has also been issued by the IMD for the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Bolangir, and Dhenkanal due to isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms with comparable wind speeds.

In the meantime, a “Yellow Warning” has been issued for Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Angul, and Keonjhar due to scattered heavy rains and thunderstorms with gusty gusts of up to 50 kmph. Nuapada, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Deogarh are also anticipated to see thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 30 to 40 kmph.

As the situation develops, residents are urged to exercise caution and keep abreast of weather forecasts.