Due to the influence of a low pressure over the North Western Bay of Bengal off West Bengal-Bangladesh Coasts, more rains and thundershowers would occur at most places over the State during next 24 hours, predicted the local Met office here on Friday.
The Met in its bulletin said that extremely heavy rainfall would occur at one or two places over the districts of Central Odisha, while one or two places over the rest of the districts of Odisha would experience heavy to very heavy rainfall during the next 24 hours.
IMD Bhubaneswar Director Sarat Sahu said the Central part of the State would get extreme rainfall, while south Odisha would get heavy to very heavy rainfall under the influence of the low pressure. Gusty surface wind with speed reaching 45 kmph to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph may prevail along and off Odisha Coast, he added.
Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea, said the local Met office bulletin.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the Hirakud Dam, who had opened 19 gates of the dam on Thursday, closed five gates on Friday.
The authorities decided to close the five gates considering the reduced inflow of water to the reservoir after the rainfall in the upper
catchments of the Mahanadi subsided.