Bhubaneswar: People, mostly in interior districts of Odisha, heaved a sigh of relief as mercury dropped below 40 degree Celsius on Saturday.
Barring five places, temperature came down appreciably at most parts of central interior districts.
Besides Sonepur, which recorded the highest of 42.8 degree Celsius, temperature went past 40 degree Celsius in Sambalpur (40.2), Bhawanipatna (40.3), Balangir (40.6) and Malkangiri (40.2).
Talking to the media, Director, Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu said barring one or two places, temperature has dropped in the state as the speed of the wind blowing from south direction from the coastal belt to the central region of the state is 35 kmph and above. “While temperature had fallen in most parts of the state yesterday, it dropped further today,” he added.
Sahu further said the temperature, which is likely to shoot up to 40 degree Celsius in some parts of interior Odisha from April 28 to 30, may drop after May 1 due to possibility of Norwester (Kala Baisakhi).
“Since there is possibility of Norwester mostly in the afternoon and evening every day due to the formation of a trough line over Odisha, some parts of the coastal areas and the adjoining districts like Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts will experience rain and thundershower till April 30. Besides, temperature will also fall in Sundargarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur because of Norwester on May 1 and 2. There is also the possibility of rain accompanied by hailstones in some parts of these three districts during the period,” Sahu added.