Bhubaneswar: The mercury climbed further and touched 39 degree Celsius in Odisha capital before noon on Tuesday. The city had recorded 32 degree Celsius by 8.30 am.
According to the regional meteorological centre, this is highest maximum temperature recorded in the state by 11.30 am. The mercury soared to 35 degree Celsius or more at six other places- Sambalpur (38), Jharsuguda (37.6), Chandbali (36.8), Hirakud (36.2) and Keonjhar (35.4).
Gopalpur recorded 34 degree Celsius, Puri 33.8 degree Celsius and Paradip 32.8 degree Celsius.
Notably, the maximum temperature in the state crossed the 40-degree Celsius mark for the first time this year, the previous day. Jharsuguda sizzled at the day’s highest of 40.4 degree Celsius followed by Baripada at 40 degree Celsius. The mercury touched 39 degree Celsius and more at 12 places in the state.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also forecast a spike in temperature in several parts of the county in the next few days. “A significantly higher number of heatwave days are predicted over parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana,” said IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mahapatra.
According to weather experts, the normal temperature at many places in the state may touch 40 degrees Celsius by April 12. “There has been a decline in thunderstorm activity and this will lead to an increase in day temperature by 2 to 3 degrees at some places during the next two to three days,” Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre Scientist Umasankar Das told the media.
The day temperature in twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack is likely to hover around 40 degree Celsius during the next few days.
