Bhubaneswar: The mercury soared to 41.6°C in Odisha Capital by 2:30 pm on Thursday, a 5.4°C rise from 36.2°C at the same time the previous day.
Jharsuguda and Sambalpur recorded the highest maximum temperature of 44.4°C each at this hour, followed by Hirakud at 44°C. The temperature also breached the 40°C mark in Keonjhar (40.8°C) and Rourkela (40.6°C).
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted severe heatwave at isolated places in the districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Balangir and Nayagarh till May 25. Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Bargarh, Angul, Sonepur and Boudh may also reel under heatwave conditions, while Sambalpur and Balangir are likely to experience warm nights during this period.
There is a warning of hot and humid conditions for Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kalahandi, Malkangiri and Sundargarh districts on May 21; and Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Khurda from May 22-25.
Thunderstorm activity with squally weather conditions may prevail in coastal and southern districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh, till May 27.