Bhubaneswar

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday issued a 'red' warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in five Odisha districts as the low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a well-marked system, officials said.

The red warning has been issued for the districts of Kandhamal, Boudh, Angul, Sambalpur, and Sonepur.

According to the latest bulletin issued by the IMD, "The well-marked low pressure area over Northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Odisha-West Bengal coasts persists over the same region at 0830 hours IST of today, 4th July, 2026. It is very likely to move west-northwestward across north Odisha and north Chhattisgarh during the next 3 days."

"The districts with red warning are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places," Meteorology Centre, Bhubaneswar, Director, Manorama Mohanty said, adding that the rainfall activities are likely to continue in Odisha till July 7.

The Meteorology Centre, Bhubaneswar, said that the weather office has also issued an 'orange' warning (be prepared for action) for eight more districts.

The districts for which 'orange' warning has been issued are Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar.

The IMD has also issued a 'yellow' warning (be aware) of rainfall for the remaining 17 districts of the state.

The prevailing well-marked low-pressure system is expected to strengthen the southwest monsoon further in the short term, with light to moderate rain at most places and continued heavy spells possible in the coming week, the IMD said, urging people to stay alert, avoid unnecessary travel during intense spells, and follow official updates.

Under the influence of the low-pressure system, squally weather with winds of 40-50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, is also likely along the coast. As the sea condition will remain rough to very rough, the IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Odisha coast till July 7.

Port authorities at Paradip and Dhamra have been asked to hoist Local Cautionary Signal No III (LC-3).

IMD sources said that at least 10 places in Odisha received above 105 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours; the highest 202 mm precipitation was recorded at Sohela in Baragarh district, followed by 145 mm at Ganjam.

According to IMD's forecast, the rainfall activities will be more in northern Odisha from July 5. Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj are likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall for three consecutive days until July 8, it said, adding that the neighbouring districts are also expected to receive significant rainfall as the monsoon system remains active across the state.

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Meanwhile, Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office has put all the district collectors on alert in view of the IMD forecast of rain activities and instructed them to take measures to deal with waterlogging in urban pockets and landslides in hilly areas.