Bhubaneswar: With heatwave returning to Odisha, the day temperature is likely to rise by by 2-3°C during
the next 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Friday.
According to the midday bulletin, the state is likely to experience scorching heat along with sultry weather conditions and warm nights amid thunderstorm activity during the next seven days.
Heatwave warning has been issued for Balangir, Kalahandi and Sambalpur on April 17; Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Balangir, Kalahandi and Sambalpur on April 18; Sundargarh, Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Balangir, Kalahandi and Sambalpur on April 19; and Sundargarh, Bargarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Jharsuguda, Balangir, Kalahandi and Sambalpur on April 20.
The mercury may soar to 45°C in several parts of western Odisha, including Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Titlagarh in Balangir, during this period.
Hot and humid conditions may continue to prevail at isolated places in districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati till April 22.
The IMD has also warned of warm nights in Balangir and Sambalpur on April 17, and Sundargarh, Balangir and Sambalpur from April 18-20.
Amid the sweltering heat, the state can expect some relief due to thunderstorm activity.
The weather agency has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (40-50 kmph) in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Balasore districts on April 17. Similar weather conditions with gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) may also prevail at one or two places in Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Balangir, Kalahandi, Rayagada and Koraput.
Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty surface wind (30-40 kmph) may continue in the afternoon/evening hours at one or two places in the districts of Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Ganjam and Gajapati on April 18; Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Gajapati on April 19; Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur ad Gajapati on April 20; Koraput and Malkangiri on April 21.
On Thursday, mercury soared to 43.7°C at Titilagarh in Balangir district, making it the hottest place in the state, followed by Jharsuguda (43.6°C), Bhawanipatna (42.5°C) and Sambalpur, Hirakud and Balangir at 42.2°C each. The temperature hovered around 41°C at Rourkela, Sundargarh and Nuapada.
