Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a deep depression, raising the likelihood of widespread heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across Odisha on Monday.

According to the IMD's morning bulletin, the deep depression was centred at 5.30 am over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining West Bengal-North Odisha coasts. The system was located about 120 km east-southeast of Balasore and had moved very slowly northwards at a speed of 3 kmph over the past six hours.

The weather system is expected to move nearly north-northwestwards and cross the West Bengal-North Odisha coast between Balasore and Canning by Monday afternoon.

In view of the system, the IMD has issued a Red Warning for Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at a few places, with extremely heavy rainfall expected at one or two locations.

An Orange Warning has been issued for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Subarnapur, Boudh and Kandhamal districts. These districts are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.

The IMD has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 50 to 60 kmph at isolated places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.

Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph are also likely at isolated places over Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh districts.

Meanwhile, a Yellow Warning has been issued for Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh, where heavy rainfall is likely at a few places.

The IMD has advised people in the affected districts to remain alert, as intense rainfall may lead to waterlogging, localised flooding and disruption to normal life. Residents have also been urged to take precautions during thunderstorms and avoid venturing into vulnerable areas during periods of intense weather.