Bhubaneswar: Residents of Odisha’s capital woke up to significant discomfort on Saturday morning as high humidity coupled with soaring temperature drove the heat index to extreme levels, making conditions feel far hotter than the actual measurement.
At 5.30 am, Bhubaneswar recorded a temperature of 30.8°C with relative humidity at 87%. This resulted in a heat index — the “feels-like” temperature calculated using the NOAA formula — reaching a scorching 43°C, according to meteorologists.
The temperature shot up to
33 degrees Celsius at 8.30 am, while the relative humidity stood at 77%.
The high moisture in the air added to the sweltering heat and made outdoor activity uncomfortable and hazardous.
On Friday, the state capital sweltered at 41°C by 2:30 pm, while high humidity made it feel like a blistering 50°C.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) as well as the state government urged citizens to stay hydrated throughout the day and to avoid prolonged exposure to the outdoors, even during the morning hours.
Residents have been advised to limit physical exertion, remain indoors where possible, and use air conditioning or fans to stay cool.
The IMD has warned of hot and humid conditions at some places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh on June 6.
Meanwhile, intense thunderstorm activity with wind speed of 50-60 kmph may continue in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Gajapati districts on Saturday.