Bhubaneswar: An orange weather alert has been issued by the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, signaling a combination of severe thunderstorms, high-velocity winds, and intense heat wave conditions across multiple districts of Odisha. This critical update comes alongside a detailed evening bulletin mapping out weather patterns and public safety warnings starting from May 23, 2026.
According to the report, the Northern Limit of Monsoon was observed passing through several oceanic and land coordinates as of May 23, with conditions remaining highly favorable for its further advance into parts of the Arabian Sea, the Comorin Area, the Bay of Bengal, and the remaining parts of the Andaman Sea over the next three to four days. Concurrently, a north-south trough continues to run from southwest Bihar down to north coastal Andhra Pradesh, extending across Jharkhand, north Chhattisgarh, and the interior regions of Odisha.
Temperature recordings across the state revealed intense summer heat, with Jharsuguda registering the highest maximum temperature at 45.2 degrees Celsius. Other stations experiencing extreme heat of 45.0 degrees Celsius or higher included Sambalpur, Hirakud, Titlagarh, and Boudh. In contrast, Gopalpur and Chatrapur recorded the state’s lowest maximum temperatures at 34.2 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Keonjhargarh experienced significant daytime precipitation, recording 15.9 mm of rainfall between 0830 hours and 1730 hours IST. For the capital city of Bhubaneswar and its neighborhood, maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 40 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius, respectively, bringing warm night conditions to the area. Maximum daytime temperatures across Odisha are projected to remain steady for the next five days before dropping by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius.
In terms of immediate public alerts, the orange warning issued for Day 1 remains valid until the morning of May 24. This warning alerts residents to severe afternoon or evening thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 50 to 60 kmph across the districts of Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Boudh, and Kandhamal. Severe heat wave conditions are also highly anticipated at isolated locations in Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Bolangir, with the latter two also facing warm night warnings. Additionally, a yellow warning has been put in place for numerous districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh, which are expected to see thunderstorms with winds of 40 to 50 kmph alongside persistent hot and humid conditions. Isolated heat waves are also predicted for Boudh, Nuapada, Kalahandi, and Khurda under this yellow watch.
Looking ahead to Day 2 and Day 3, the orange warning for isolated heat waves persists for Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Bolangir, while Bolangir remains under a warm night alert for Day 2. Yellow warnings for thunderstorms, wind speeds of 40 to 50 kmph, and hot, humid conditions will continue to impact various coastal and interior districts through Day 5, which ends on May 28. Conditions are expected to quiet down by Day 6 and Day 7, with light to moderate rain or thunderstorms predicted only at isolated spots in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Nawrangpur, Koraput, and Malkangiri, carrying no severe weather warnings. Fortunately for maritime communities, no weather warnings have been issued for fishermen operating along the Odisha coast for the entire five-day forecast period.
Due to the extreme heat expected in districts like Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Bolangir, authorities advise the public to limit prolonged sun exposure, wear lightweight cotton clothing, and maintain proper hydration by drinking water and traditional rehydrating fluids like lassi, buttermilk, or rice water. Vulnerable groups, including infants, the elderly, and individuals with chronic ailments, require extra precaution. For regions expecting severe thunderstorms, residents are urged to stay indoors, close windows, disconnect electronic appliances, and avoid seeking shelter under trees due to the threat of lightning and property damage caused by high winds.