Bhubaneswar: Several districts of Odisha are likely to experience thunderstorm and heavy rainfall today as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Orange Warning in this regard.

"Thunderstorm with lightning, and gusty surface wind speed reaching 45- 55 kmph and hail very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Bolangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Boudh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Jajpur. Also, thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rainfall (7 cm to 11 cm) at one or two places likely over districts of Cuttack, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Khordha, and Dhenkanal," the IMD forecasted and issued Orange Warning for these districts.

"Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30- 40 kmph very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Deogarh and thunderstorm with lightning very likely to occur at one or two places over the rest districts of Odisha," the IMD added and issued Yellow Warning for these districts.

"People are advised to keep watch on weather and take safe shelter during the thunderstorm activity to protect themselves from lightning and follow traffic advisories in urban areas. Also, harvesting of rabi crops may be regulated judicially and farmers are advised to use hail nets to protect vegetables and crops from hail," the IMD said in its advisory.