Bhubaneswar, Aug 18: The low-pressure system that formed yesterday over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is expected to further strengthen within the next 12 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The system is currently active over the west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, near the coasts of northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha.

The IMD has issued a red alert for three districts — Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Malkangiri — predicting extremely heavy rainfall ranging from 120 mm to 200 mm over the next 24 hours. Additionally, orange warnings have been issued for Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Gajapati, while yellow alerts are in place for Puri, Khordha, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Boudh, Balangir, and Nuapada.

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The depression is expected to move northwestward and cross northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts by Tuesday morning.

Widespread rainfall is forecast across the state for the next five days, with intense showers and thunderstorms accompanied by wind speeds of 30–40 km/h in many districts. Coastal regions may experience wind speeds of 40–60 km/h, prompting the IMD to advise fishermen not to venture into the sea between August 18 and 20 due to rough conditions.

So far, Odisha has recorded 726 mm of rainfall this monsoon season (since June 1), which is 6% below the normal average of 772.8 mm. While 20 districts have received normal rainfall, 2 districts recorded above-normal rainfall, and 8 districts are experiencing deficient rainfall.

In the last 24 hours, most areas received light to moderate rainfall, with 9 locations recording heavy showers and one location — Kotpad in Koraput — recording extremely heavy rainfall of 133 mm, the highest in the state.

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