Bhubaneswar: As many as 17 places in Odisha recorded maximum temperature of 40 degree Celsius or more on Thursday.
According to evening bulletin of the regional centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar, 5 places registered maximum temperature of more than 42 degree Celsius on the day.
Sambalpur was the hottest place in the state recording the temperature of 43.4 degree Celsius. It was followed by Jharsuguda and Hirakud with 42.6 degree, Sonepur 42.4 degree and Boudh 42.2 degree Celsius.
The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 39.9 and 38.8 degree Celsius respectively.
The IMD has forecast that the heatwave condition will continue and the day temperature is likely to hover around 42-43 degree Celsius in interior pockets of Odisha for next 5 days. Thunderstorm activity with gusty wind and light to moderate rain will also continue during the period.
It has issued yellow warning for several districts during this period. Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is likely to occur at one or two places in Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Puri, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur till 8.30 am on Friday.
Light to moderate rain or thunderstorm may occur at a few places in Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Rayagada and at one or two in remaining districts of the state.