3 Heatwave Days Likely This Week In Odisha, IMD Issues Warning For 8 Districts

Bhubaneswar: The heatwave conditions are likely to set in early in Odisha with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing warning for 3 days, beginning March 13.

Yellow warning has been sounded for Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir, Bargarh, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts on March 13 and Angul, Boudh, Sonepur, Balangir,Bargarh,Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur on March 14-15, when the state will be celebrating Dola Purnima and Holi.

According to the weather agency, the day temperature is expected to rise gradually by 2-3 degree Celsius during the next 5 days, with no large change in the minimum temperature during this period.

This is in departure from last year when no heatwave days were recorded in March. The threshold for a heatwave is met when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius and the departure from normal is 4.5-6.4 degree Celsius at at least two places for two consecutive days.

The MeT office has attributed this increase in mercury levels to hot and dry northwesterly winds blowing towards the state.