Bhubaneswar, July 2 (IANS) A low-pressure area has formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal coast under the influence of an upper-air cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6 km above mean sea level, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, Manorama Mohanty, IMD Bhubaneswar Drector, said the system is likely to become more marked over the next two to three days, leading to widespread rainfall activity across Odisha.

Several districts of the state are expected to receive heavy rainfall under the influence of the low-pressure area.

Mohanty said that light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is very likely at many places across the state during the next four to five days, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in several districts.

According to the IMD forecast, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in districts, including Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangapur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Boudh and Nuapada, while extremely heavy rainfall is likely over parts of Malkangiri, Koraput and adjoining southern Odisha districts during the peak spell.

The weather office said rainfall activity is expected to intensify between July 3 and July 6, with widespread rain and isolated extremely heavy showers over southern and western Odisha. Coastal districts are also likely to receive heavy rainfall during this period.

The IMD on Thursday also issued a red alert, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rainfall likely at one or two places in Koraput and Malkangiri districts on July 3 and 4. Meanwhile, orange and yellow warning has been issued for other districts of the state for the next couple of days.

The agency added that rainfall intensity is likely to gradually decrease after July 8.

Mohanty also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea over the next five days as squally weather is expected over the Bay of Bengal.

Wind speeds are likely to reach 40–50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, making sea conditions rough to very rough along and off the Odisha coast.

–IANS

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