Heavy rain, thunderstorms likely in parts of Gujarat: IMD

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], October 26 (ANI): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday forecasted heavy rain accompanied by moderate thunderstorms and strong surface winds at isolated places in several districts of Gujarat.
According to the weather department, heavy rain exceeding 15 mm per hour, along with moderate thunderstorms and maximum surface wind speeds of 41 to 61 kmph in gusts, is very likely to occur in Amreli, Gir Somnath, and Diu districts.
These areas also face a moderate probability (30 to 60 per cent) of cloud-to-ground lightning.
The IMD further stated that moderate rain of 5 to 15 mm per hour, with light thunderstorms, and surface winds below 40 kmph are very likely at isolated places in Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Narmada, Surat, Tapi, Dangs, Navsari, Valsad, Daman, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli districts.
These areas have a low probability (less than 30 per cent) of lightning occurrence.
Light rain of less than 5 mm per hour accompanied by light thunderstorms and surface winds below 40 kmph is expected at isolated places in Porbandar, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Botad, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Panchmahal, Dahod, Kheda, and Mahisagar districts, also with a low probability (below 30%) of cloud-to-ground lightning.
Meanwhile, in Odisha, the Fire Department remains on high alert ahead of the potential Cyclone Montha.
Fire Officer Prabhat Kumar earlier stated that the department is preparing for the approaching storm from October 27th to 29th and that it has followed all guidelines issued by the state government, administration, and higher authorities to tackle the cyclone and carry out rescue operations.
While the cyclone is not expected to make a direct landfall in Odisha, it is still likely to cause widespread downpours and gusty winds.
The IMD earlier identified a low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal on October 24. The system is predicted to intensify into a depression by October 25, a deep depression by October 26, and a cyclonic storm over the west-central and southwest Bay of Bengal by October 27.
Meteorologists anticipate the storm will likely track toward the coast of Andhra Pradesh.
In Odisha, heavy rainfall is expected in coastal and southern districts from October 27 to October 29. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for the entire state, with some regions bracing for extremely heavy rainfall.
Squally weather, with wind speeds reaching 40-50 kmph and gusts up to 60 kmph, is expected along the south Odisha coast starting October 27.
IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty confirmed that a low-pressure depression system has formed south of the Bay of Bengal and is likely to intensify into a depression. (ANI)