Bhubaneswar: The mercury soared past 42°C at four places in Odisha on Saturday with Jharsuguda recording the highest maximum temperature of 43.4°C by 2.30 pm.
Rourkela and Sambalpur were second at 42.2°C each, followed by Hirakud at 42°C. State capital Bhubaneswar recorded 34°C.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has hot and humid conditions at isolated places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Jharsuguda, Balangir, Sambalpur and Angul on April 25-26. The sultry spell may continue in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapasa, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati on April 27.
The MeT office has also warned of thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Malkangiri on April 25; Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on April 26, and Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Nabarangpur, and Ganjam on April 27.
Thunderstorm activity with wind speed of 40-50 kmph may continue to prevail in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Gajapati, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri on April 28-29; Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Gajapati, Rayagada and Ganjam on April 30; and Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar on May 1.
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) may also occur in the afternoon/evening hours at Sundargarh, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Kendrapada on April 28-29; and Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Kandhamal on April 30.
It further stated that day temperature across the state is likely to fall by 2-4⁰C due to possible thundershowers (Kalbaisakhi) after three days.
According to Sarat Sahu, former director at IMD’s Regional Meteorological Science Centre in Bhubaneswar, stated that the state can expect some relief from the scorching heat for three days after April 28.
“Winds from northwest and southwest directions are currently getting squeezed in the upper atmosphere over eastern India. This pattern pushes winds downward, which dry out atmospheric moisture and prevent cloud formation, leading to a rise in the temperature,” he said.
Also Read: 12 Places In Odisha Cross 42°C, Jharsuguda Records Season’s Highest 44.8°C
Sahu further stated that this condition is likely to prevail till April 28. “A change in weather can be expected around April 28–29, with the formation of a trough line, which will lead to thundershowers and bring down the mercury levels for three days. The temperature may drop to 35-36⁰C in coastal districts and 40⁰C in western Odisha during this period,” he said, adding that temperature will again rise by May 2.