Bhubaneswar, May 28 -- India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for several districts of Odisha, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds over the next four days, the IMD sources said on Thursday.

The alert comes amid unstable weather conditions and the gradual advancement of the southwest monsoon over parts of the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

According to the latest weather bulletin issued in the evening on May 28, conditions remain favourable for further advancement of the southwest monsoon into more parts of the Bay of Bengal and adjoining regions during the next two to three days.

The IMD regional centre also noted that an upper air cyclonic circulation over northwest Odisha has...