Bhubaneswar: Six places in Odisha recorded temperatures of 39 degrees Celsius or more in the last 24 hours, while at four other places it was 40 degrees Celsius or more.
Several Indian states, including Odisha, are already reeling under heatwave conditions, which is unusual in March.
“During the past few days, the southerly winds from Gujarat and south Pakistan took the heat to southern and southwest Rajasthan. There were no active Western Disturbances, which otherwise brings colder winds. As a result, temperatures in Jammu, Rajasthan and neighbourhood areas remained higher than normal,” Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General, India Meteorological Department (IMD), told The Indian Express.
Absence of pre-monsoon showers too has contributed to heatwave conditions.
“There has not been any significant thunderstorm activity and associated rainfall over most parts of the country in March,” Mohapatra told the paper.
Hot winds from the deserts also push up temperatures. Desert winds are likely to push day temperatures to 44 degrees Celsius in Odisha after March 25.
Also read: https://odishabytes.com/desert-winds-likely-to-push-day-temperature-to-44c-in-odisha-after-march-25/