Severe Weather Alert Issued for Odisha Due to Low Pressure System

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for several districts in Odisha due to a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, predicting heavy rainfall in the coming days. Districts like Sambalpur and Kalahandi are expected to face intense weather conditions, including thunderstorms and potential flash floods. Residents are advised to stay alert and avoid unnecessary travel. Fishermen are warned against venturing into deep waters as rough sea conditions are anticipated. The IMD also forecasts significant rainfall across the state, urging farmers to continue their agricultural activities as better weather is expected soon.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 4, 2026, 17:39 IST

Weather Warning for Odisha

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in Odisha due to a low-pressure area over the northwestern Bay of Bengal, adjacent to northern Odisha and West Bengal. This weather system is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours. Districts such as Sambalpur, Boudh, Kalahandi, Subarnapur (Sonpur), and Angul are likely to experience intense rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning within the next 24 hours. Other regions of the state are also forecasted to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall during this period.

Potential Hazards and Precautions

The IMD has cautioned that the heavy rains could lead to landslides in hilly areas and urban flash floods in low-lying districts. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel during the heavy rainfall. Due to the anticipated rough sea conditions along the northwestern Bay of Bengal and adjacent coastal areas, fishermen have been warned not to venture into deep waters from July 4 to July 6. Additionally, a 'Local Cautionary Signal (LCS)-III' has been issued for Odisha's ports, and port authorities and marine operators are urged to implement necessary safety measures.

Cyclonic Circulation and Rainfall Forecast

Earlier, Manorama Mohanty, the director of IMD Bhubaneswar, stated that a cyclonic circulation is present over the northern part of the Bay of Bengal and adjacent southern Bangladesh at upper atmospheric levels. This circulation extends from 1.5 to 5.8 kilometers above sea level and is tilted southwestward with height. As a result, a low-pressure area is expected to form around July 3 in the northwestern Bay of Bengal and surrounding regions, leading to rainfall across the state.

She further mentioned that significant rainfall is anticipated in Odisha between July 1 and July 6. An orange alert has been issued for Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur due to the likelihood of heavy rainfall. The state has recorded 110 mm of rainfall, which is a 47% deficit compared to the normal of 209.3 mm. Farmers are encouraged to continue their agricultural activities as good rainfall is expected in the coming weeks.