Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that sultry weather conditions, along with thunderstorm activity, are expected to persist in Odisha until April 22. Hot and humid weather is likely to affect isolated areas in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati. Additionally, the IMD has issued a heatwave warning for Balangir, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur districts on April 18-19.

The IMD predicts a gradual increase in daytime temperatures by 2-3°C over the next two days, with no significant changes expected in maximum temperatures for the following two days, followed by another increase of 2-3°C across the state.

On April 16, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) may occur in the afternoon or evening in one or two locations within the districts of Mayurbhanj and Balasore. Similar weather conditions with winds reaching 30-40 kmph are also anticipated in Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, and Kandhamal.

Thunderstorms, along with lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph), may continue in the afternoon and evening hours on April 17-18 in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati.

Similar weather conditions are expected in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, and Gajapati on April 19; in Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, and Gajapati on April 20; and in Koraput and Malkangiri on April 21.