Bhubaneswar: Rainfall activity is likely to increase in parts of southern and coastal Odisha districts for at least three to four days from Sept 22, amid chances of formation of a low-pressure area over the Andaman Sea on Saturday, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.This was amid the low-pressure area’s possible intensification in three-four days and movement towards the south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coast.The IMD, based on a preliminary forecast, issued an orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in three districts — Koraput, Malkangiri and Nawarangpur on Sept 23 and 24, under the influence of the possible system. Besides, an IMD bulletin said a yellow warning for heavy rainfall would continue in at least eight more districts — Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nawarangpur — from next Tuesday.Manorama Mohanty, head of the regional IMD centre in the city, said the possible system would intensify gradually.A senior official at the office of the special relief commissioner (SRC) said in the wake of the IMD’s warning they would keep the district collectors concerned on alert.The possible system, the IMD’s latest bulletin said, has been lying as an upper-air cyclonic circulation over northern Thailand for the third day on Friday, and was expected to emerge over the northern Andaman Sea towards evening, before developing into a low-pressure area. Thereafter, it is likely to intensify gradually and move west-north-westwards towards south Odisha-north Andhra Pradesh coasts during subsequent three-four days, the bulletin said.It further indicates the state would likely witness light to moderate rainfall at a few places only till Sept 21, mostly with a thunderstorm warning.With a heavy rainfall warning for Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar, Bangiriposi in Mayurbhanj district recorded the highest 70mm rain in the state in the last 24 hours, said an IMD report in the morning. The district headquarters town, Bhadrak, followed with 40mm rainfall.
