Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heavy rainfall in several parts of Odisha as a cyclonic circulation over the northwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas persists.

According to the IMD, the upper-air cyclonic circulation extends up to 7.6 km above mean sea level and is tilting southwestwards with height. Under its influence, a Low Pressure Area is likely to form over the same region around August 12.

For Monday, the IMD has predicted heavy rainfall at one or two places in Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh districts.

The weather office has also warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph at one or two places in several districts.

The affected districts include Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Subarnapur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.

The developing weather system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to influence rainfall activity across Odisha in the coming days.