IMD Issues Weather Outlook For 2 Weeks; Know The Reason For Prolonged Heatwave In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Dry weather with isolated severe heatwave and thunderstorm activity may occur in Odisha between April 26 and May 9, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday in its extended weather outlook report.

The day temperature is likely to remain 4 to 6°C above normal at a few places with isolated severe heatwave condition in some parts of north Odisha and its adjoining districts from April 26-28. The extreme heat condition may continue in the state from April 29 and May 2.

It further said that dry weather with isolated thunderstorm activity is also likely at one or two places over the districts of Odisha from May 3-9. Isolated severe heatwave condition along with scattered heatwave condition may also prevail at a few places over some parts of coastal Odisha. The maximum temperature is likely to remain above normal at many places in the state during this period.

Notably, the national forecaster has issued red warning of heatwave for several districts of Odisha for two days from Friday and the state may continue to reel under extreme heat conditions till April 29.

Also Read: Red Alert For Heatwave In Odisha; Temp May Touch 45°C In Bhubaneswar & Cuttack

The weather agency further said that the day temperature was markedly above normal by 5-7°C at a few places, appreciably above normal by 3-4°C at one or two places and near normal elsewhere over the districts of Odisha from Apil 18-24. During the week, the highest maximum temperature was observed as 45.2⁰C in Baripada and Boudh on April 20.

According to Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), heatwave may persist in the state for a week to ten days as the weather conditions are influenced by the prevailing climate over Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Model products indicated that the maximum day temperature in north Odisha varied between 43°C and 45°C while the temperature hovered between 41°C and 43°C in the southern districts,” said CEC director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

He said meteorological systems are forming one after another over Pakistan and Afghanistan leading to heavy rainfall there which in turn is influencing weather conditions in India. “The systems either remained stationary or moved slightly towards the north western states of India. Because of this, no major rain bearing system formed over central India and eastern states leading to flow of dry north-westerly hot wind from the central plains into eastern India, Odisha in particular,” he said while explaining the prolonged spell of heatwave in the state.

The system persisting over Pakistan and its adjoining region at present could move slowly towards eastern India and cause rain and thundershower in coastal and nearby districts on May 1, which would lead to drop in temperature by 3-4°C, he said adding that the heat might increase from May 4.

“The prevailing weather in the neighbouring country has been impacting the flow of sea breeze from the Bay of Bengal which was not getting stronger though an anti-cyclone is persisting,” he added.

Private forecaster Skymet has also predicted a build up in extreme heat conditions in Odisha after April 28. “Plenty of sunshine will build up the dry heat over the interior parts of Odisha. Mercury level may rise to about 45°C at many places during the last days of April and the first week of May,” it said.

“There is a trough/ wind discontinuity extending from North Madhya Maharashtra to Kerala, across Karnataka. This feature has an embedded cyclonic circulation over parts of Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada. This feeble system will get detached and move eastward. Rain and thundershower activity will move eastward covering Vidarbha, East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and parts of Odisha over the next 3-4 days. North Odisha and West Bengal will escape the pre-monsoon activity, this time.  Therefore, the temperatures may ease out over the central states for the next 3-4 days but the eastern parts and more so, Odisha and West Bengal will still have a rising trend.”

Titlagarh, Sambalpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Balangir, Angul and Keonjhar will exceed their normal range of temperature by 5-7°C. The extreme heat may even extend and reach Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar, Baripada, Rourkela and Rayagada, it added.