Bhubaneswar: The weather centre here Thursday predicted thunderstorm accompanied by hail and rain in 22 districts of Odisha in the next 24 hours.
The 22 districts included Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sundergarh, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Nayagarh.
Gusty surface wind speed will reach 50 km/hr to 60 km/hr during these hours. Apart from this, heavy rainfall is forecast at one or two places in the coastal districts. As high tides are expected, fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea.
Notably, heavy rain accompanied by lightning was experienced in most parts of the state Wednesday , affecting rail and air services.
The met department said the rainfall was caused due to formation of a cloud mass near the Odisha-West Bengal border, which gradually moved southwards.