IMD forecasts thunderstorm with gusty wind, lightning in several districts of Odisha today evening

Moderate thunderstorm with gusty wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph and lightning and light to moderate rain are likely to affect some parts of districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal within next three hours, said a release issued by the India Meteorological Department at 4:20 pm.

People are advised to keep a watch on the weather and accordingly move to safer places to protect from lightning strike, the IMD said.

The IMD release also said that light to moderate thunderstorm with lightning and light moderate rain likely to affect some parts of districts of Keonjhar, Gajapati, Ganjam within next three hours at the time of the issue of the release.

People are advised to keep a watch on the weather and accordingly move to safer places to protect from lightning strike.

Meanwhile, IMD has advised fishermen not to venture out the sea off the coasts of north Odisha and West Bengal on May 23 and 24 due to a low-pressure area intensifying into a depression over central parts of the Bay of Bengal.

"A low pressure area is likely to form over Southwest Bay of Bengal around 22nd May, 2024. It is likely to move initially north-eastwards and concentrate into a depression over central parts of Bay of Bengal by morning of 24th May, 2024," Sunanda, Director, Visakhapatnam cyclone warning centre of the IMD told ANI.

"Weather associated with this system is more in the north Odisha and West Bengal region only. There is a likelihood of light to moderate rain in Andhra Pradesh. Along the coast over the northern part of Odisha and West Bengal, there is a likelihood of heavy to very heavy rain with high wind. So fishermen are advised not to venture out in the sea from these coasts during this period of May 23 to 24," she added.

She said that the fishermen who ventured out into the sea from these coats must return by 23rd May.