Did the Met Office Issue a Warning for Heavy Rainfall in Odisha?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Heavy rainfall expected in southern Odisha.
- Low-pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal.
- Widespread alerts including orange and red warnings.
- Potential damage to crops and infrastructure.
- Residents advised to stay prepared and informed.
Bhubaneswar, Aug 17 (NationPress) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially issued a warning regarding heavy rainfall in several regions of Odisha over the upcoming days, attributed to the emergence of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal.
This low-pressure system was formed over the Bay of Bengal near the coasts of northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.
According to the IMD's bulletin released on Sunday, "Under the influence of the upper air cyclonic circulation over the west-central and adjacent northwest Bay of Bengal, a low-pressure area has developed in the same region at 8:30 hrs IST today, 17th August 2025."
The IMD further forecasts that this cyclonic circulation is expected to intensify into a depression within the next 24 hours and is likely to make landfall along the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts by the morning of August 19.
The IMD anticipates that this low-pressure system will cause significant rainfall across multiple areas in the state, especially in the southern districts.
An orange alert has been issued predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms for certain southern Odisha districts including Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, and Gajapati on Sunday.
Additionally, a yellow warning has been placed for Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, and Jagatsinghpur districts.
A red warning has also been issued, indicating extremely heavy rainfall may occur in Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur on Monday.
As the low-pressure area persists, several districts in Odisha are anticipated to experience rainfall over the next three days.
Moreover, the IMD expects that areas such as Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, and Kalahandi may suffer damage to plantations, horticultural crops, and standing crops.
Furthermore, there are concerns that kutcha houses, walls, and huts may be affected, with risks of road flooding, waterlogging in low-lying areas, and potential occurrences of localized landslides and mudslides.