Bhubaneswar: With heatwave sweeping some parts of Odisha, the mercury soared past 40 degree Celsius in Bhubaneswar before noon, India Meteorological Department (IMD) tweeted on Tuesday.
The state capital was hottest at 40.4 degree Celsius by 11.30 am followed by Jharsuguda (40.2), Keonjhar (39.2), Sambalpur (38.6), Hirakud (37.4), Chandbali (37) and Balasore (36.4).
Bhubaneswar had recorded 32.6 degree Celsius by 8.30 am.
According to the MeT office, heatwave condition is likely to prevail at one or two places in Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Sambalpur in the next 24 hours. It has also forecast thunderstorm with lightning at one or two places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Kandhamal while light to moderate rain may occur in Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur during this period.
The state is likely to witness a gradual fall in the day temperature by 2 to 3 degrees after two days, it added.