Heatwave In Odisha: Bhubaneswar Sizzles At 42.2 Degree C By 11.30 AM

Bhubaneswar: As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) ruled out any respite from the grueling heat in next three days, the temperature in state capital Bhubaneswar touched 42.2 degree Celsiu by 11.30 am on Saturday.

The plight of the people got compounded by the high level of humidity which stood at 72 per cent at 5.30 am in the state capital. Humidity level was measured at 54 per cent at 8.30 am and 36 per cent at 11.30 am in the city, the MeT Center said.

On Friday, the temperature in Bhubaneswar stood at 41.6 degree Celsius and humidity was 38 per cent at 11.30 am. The city recorded 35.6 degrees Celsius at 8.30 am on Saturday.

Sambalpur in western Odisha was the hottest place in the state by 11.30 am recording 42.6 degree Celsius, while the temperature was 42.4 degree in Hirakud.

The IMD has already issued an orange alert about severe heatwave for five districts of the state.

The districts including Sonepur, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, and Sundargarh will experience severe heatwave amid very high temperature.

Similarly, heatwave will be experienced in Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Boudh, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Angul, Deogarh, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj districts where the MeT Centre has sounded yellow warning.

Notably, the mercury breached 44 degree Celsius in 10 places of the state with 31 stations reporting 40 degree or plus on Friday. Sonepur was the hottest in the state with 45.6 degree Celsius, followed by Jharsuguda with 45.4, Balangir 45.3, Sambalpur 44.8, Angul 44.7, Hirakud 44.6 and Bhubaneswar 44.6.

The IMD has forecast no large change in maximum temperature (day temperature) during next 3 days and slight fall thereafter at many places in the state. It is likely to be above normal by 4-7 degree Celsius at a few places during the period.

Since hot and discomfort weather is likely during next 4 days, the Met office has advised people to take precautionary measures while going outside from 11 am to 3 pm.

The weather forecaster has also said that the conditions are becoming favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon in some more parts of south peninsular and eastern India and adjoining areas during June 18 to 21.