The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heat wave conditions and thunderstorm with lightning in several districts in the next 72 hours. The IMD has already issued orange warning for Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara districts and yellow warning for districts of Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamal, Puri, Ganjam, Khurda, Nayagarh and Cuttack. It said thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph are very likely to occur in the districts under yellow and orange warning.
The IMD predicted strong gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph over North -West Bay of Bengal and along and off Odisha Coast. The fishermen are advised not to venture into sea along and off Odisha Coast and North-West Bay. Meanwhile, the IMD bulletin also predicted that heat wave conditions are likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Bolangir, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Angul, Boudh and Kalahandi from March 31 to April 2 next. The heat wave will intensify from March 31 with a rise of 2-3°C in the day temperature during the next two days and thereafter by 3-5°C at many places in the state, the bulletin said. It warned the people to take all precautionary measures while moving out during the day time.