Bhubaneswar: The mercury soared to 44.6°C in Sambalpur by 2.30 pm on Sunday as Odisha continued to reel under severe heatwave conditions.
Jharsuguda was close second at 44.4°C, followed by HIrakud (43.8°C), Rourkela (39.6°C), Kenojhar (38.4°C) and Chandbali (38.2°C). The state capital of Bhubaneswar recorded 37.8°C.
This comes a day after five places recorded a maximum temperature of 45°C and above. While Jharsuguda was the hottest place in the state at 45.2°C, Sambalpur, Hirakud, Titlagarh, and Boudh recoded 45°C each, followed by Sonepur (44.7°C), Balangir and Bhawanipatna at 44.5°C each, Nupada (43.5°C), Bargarh (42.8°C) and Sundargarh (42.2°C).
The blistering conditions are being attributed to a combination of persistent dry and hot north-westerly winds and no active weather system.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), severe heatwave may persist in the districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Boudh and Balangir till May 28. People have been advised to take precautionary measures while going outside during peak hours of the day.
Heatwave conditions may also prevail in Sonepur district on May 24; Sonepur and Kalahandi on May 25; Bargarh, Sonepur, Nuapada and Kalahandi on May 26; and Bargarh, Sonepur, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Kandhamal on May 27-28.
The midday bulletin further stated that hot and humid conditions may continue at isolated places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh during this period, when the normal temperature is likely to 3 degrees above normal with above normal humidity. There is also a warm night warning for Sambalpur and Balangir till May 26.
Incidentally, Odisha was one among the 10 states with the most compound hot-humid days, a weather phenomenon where extreme heat and high atmospheric moisture occur simultaneously, between 2015 and 2024.
People in the state can expect some relief after 3-4 days when the day temperature may fall by 2-3°C.
The MeT office has also issued thunderstorm warning for several places in the state till May 30.
May 24
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (50-60 kmph) may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam.
Similar weather conditions with wind speed of 40-50 kmph may also prevail in Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Balangir, Kandhamal, Nawrangpur, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh.
May 25
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (50-60 kmph) may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, and Ganjam.
Similar weather conditions with wind speed of 40-50 kmph may also prevail in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh.
May 26
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam.
May 27-28
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Nayagarh.
May 29-30
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) may occur in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri.