A combination of movement of upper air trough towards the east and flow of moisture into the land from the Bay of Bengal is likely to trigger rain and thunderstorm in coastal and south Odisha districts from March 16, according to the Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan here.

There is probability of rain and thunderstorm accompanied by lightning between March 16 and 19 in the districts of coastal and south Odisha while The interior districts would also experience the same with less intensity, Dr. Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director of CEC, said.

Thunderstorm accompanied by hail might also occur in north and coastal Odisha between March 16 and 18, he said.

As a result, day time heat would decrease from March 15 but the fall in temperature would be prominent from March 16 with maximum day temperature being 33 degrees C at most places in the state, Dr. Sahu said adding the trend would continue till March 21.