Long Duration Of Heatwave More Worrying, Says Climate Expert

Bhubaneswar: A climate change expert has said that what was more worrying about the current heatwave roiling India was the long duration of the severe wave than the high temperatures.

“The significance of the current Indian/Pakistani heat wave is less about smashing records (though various records have fallen) and more about very long duration. The last 6 weeks have been repeatedly challenging the top of the historical range and baking this part of the world,” Dr Robert Rohde, lead scientist at Berkeley Earth, tweeted.

Five places in Odisha recorded maximum temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius or more in the last 24 hours with Boudh the hottest at 45 degrees Celsius.

Eleven districts in Odisha are likely to experience heatwave conditions on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Heatwave warning has been issued for Sambalpur, Sonepur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Bargarh, Boudh, Balangir, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Angul.

The weather department has advised people to avoid heat exposure, wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes and cover the head with a cloth, hat or umbrella.

The IMD has also predicted a dip in mercury level in some parts of Odisha due to thunderstorms from May 1. “The Norwester will bring temperatures down by 2 degrees Celsius around May 1-2,” the MeT office said.

Thunderstorms with lightning are very likely to occur at one or two places in Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput districts with light to moderate rain at one or two places in coastal Odisha, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Sundargarh districts on May 1.

Also read: https://odishabytes.com/heawave-warning-for-11-odisha-districts-today-norwester-may-bring-relief-from-may-1/