The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday, 15 July forecast widespread, heavy rainfall across Odisha over the next three to four days, coinciding with the commencement of the state's most celebrated festival, the Rath Yatra, beginning Thursday, 16 July. A well-marked low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining regions is driving the weather system, which forecasters expect to intensify and move northwards.

Red Alert Issued for Puri and Jagatsinghpur

IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty confirmed that a Red Warning has been issued for Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall at one or two locations — valid until 8:30 am on 16 July. Puri, the coastal city at the heart of the Rath Yatra celebrations, faces a particularly heightened risk, with heavy rainfall activity expected to continue through the day of the festival.

Day-by-Day Rainfall Forecast

On 15 July, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places across several districts, with extremely heavy rainfall not ruled out at a few locations. 16 July and 17 July will see widespread rainfall continue, with isolated pockets receiving heavy to very heavy showers. From 18 July onwards, intensity is expected to gradually ease, though scattered to fairly widespread rain is likely to persist across many districts through 19 July, according to the IMD.

Rough Seas and Fishermen Advisory

Sea conditions along the Odisha coast are forecast to remain rough to very rough from 15 July to 17 July, with squally winds of 40–50 kmph and gusts reaching up to 60 kmph. The IMD has advised fishermen to avoid venturing into the sea during this period due to adverse conditions. Residents across districts likely to experience heavy rainfall have been urged to remain alert and follow advisories from local authorities.

Rath Yatra Amid Weather Watch

The annual Rath Yatra — drawing millions of devotees to Puri each year — will proceed as the low-pressure system bears down on coastal Odisha. Notably, the convergence of extreme weather and mass public gatherings raises logistical and safety concerns for district administrations. This is not the first time the festival has coincided with a monsoon weather alert; the Bay of Bengal low-pressure season routinely peaks in mid-July, overlapping with the Rath Yatra calendar.

What Authorities Are Saying

Director Mohanty emphasised that the low-pressure system is expected to strengthen further over the next 24 hours, amplifying rainfall intensity before a gradual retreat from 18 July. Authorities have asked residents, particularly in coastal and low-lying districts, to exercise caution and monitor official updates. The situation will be closely watched as the weather system's northward track could influence rainfall distribution across neighbouring states as well.