Bihar: IMD Issues Orange Alert; Predicts Heavy Rains, Thunderstorm & Gusty Winds Across Coastal Districts

IMD stated the possibility of frequent cloud to ground lightning along with moderate to severe thunderstorm in Bihar till June 18.

Bihar Weather Forecast

Patna: The IMD department issued an orange code alert on Thursday and a yellow code alert for Thursday and Friday after the forecast of heavy rains, thunderstorm and gusty winds across the coastal districts and southern regions of Bihar.

An orange code alert specifies that authorities should be alert for extreme weather developments and the yellow code alert asks the authorities to be watchful.

While advising people to exercise caution when in open fields, the IMD stated the possibility of frequent cloud to ground lightning along with moderate to severe thunderstorm in Bihar till June 18.

“The prevailing very active monsoon phase over Bihar is very conducive for large-scale lightning activities over the entire state in association with cumulonimbus clouds. The probability of intense lightning is very high during the next three days, i.e. till 18th June 2021. All open fields, rivers, waterlogged areas, mango, and Litchi orchard will remain vulnerable to a lightning strike. Both the direct and indirect strikes of lightning can prove fatal in such circumstances,” read the IMD warning on Wednesday.

The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds across many states in the next couple of weeks. 

The Patna meteorological centre also issued a warning for intense lightning in the state for over three days.

“The prevailing very active monsoon phase over Bihar is highly conducive for large-scale lightening activities over the entire state in association with cumulonimbus clouds. The probability of intense lightening is very high during the next three days, which is till June 18,” read a special bulletin issued by Patna meteorological centre on Wednesday afternoon.

The alerts in Bihar come at a time when monsoon has covered nearly two-third of the country, and is nearly two weeks ahead of its regular schedule, according to officials.