Bhubaneswar: At least 18 districts in Odisha may witness thunderstorm with lightning on August 26 (Saturday), predicted the IMD today.

The western end of monsoon trough lies along the foothills of the Himalayas. However, its eastern end passes through Gorakhpur, Patna, Bankura, Digha and thence southeastwards to east central Bay of Bengal at mean sea level, said the IMD in its weather bulletin today.

As per the prediction, thunderstorm with lightning is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur on August 26.

Similarly, heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri and Koraput on the day, said the IMD. The MeT department has issued a yellow warning in this regard.

Besides, the IMD has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershower at many places over the districts of Coastal Odisha, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput and at a few places over the remaining districts of Odisha on August 26.

Light to moderate rain/thundershower has occurred at most places over the districts of Odisha with heavy rainfall at one or two places over the districts of Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Boudh during the last 24 hours, said the IMD.