Bhubaneswar: Odisha is likely to witness rainfall over the next seven days under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

According to Dr Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, the upper-air cyclonic circulation persists between 4.5 km and 5.8 km above mean sea level. Its influence is expected to keep rainfall activity active across the state, with the possibility of heavy rainfall from July 13 onwards.

The IMD has predicted light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in several districts over the next 7 days. Isolated places are also likely to receive heavy rainfall.

For the next 24 hours, light to moderate rain is expected at many places across the state. A Yellow Warning has been issued for Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts for thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 30 to 40 kmph.

For Saturday, the weather office has issued a Yellow Warning for Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj districts, where thunderstorms, light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds of 30 to 40 kmph are likely.

The IMD has also warned of heavy rainfall in parts of the state until July 16. Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar have been placed under a Yellow Warning for heavy rain.

Meanwhile, rainfall was recorded at 13 locations across Odisha during the past 24 hours. Gurundia in Sundargarh district received the highest rainfall of 71 mm.