Mercury Soars Past 42°C In Odisha By 2.30PM; Thunderstorm, Gusty Wind Alert Continues

Bhubaneswar: Sambalpur was the hottest at 42.8 degree Celsius by 2.30 am on Thursday, followed by Hirakud (41.6) and Jharsuguda (41). Bhubaneswar recorded 39.4 degree Celsius, the regional centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed.

While there will be no let-up in the sweltering heat and the day temperature is likely to hover around 42-43 degree Celsius in interior pockets of Odisha, thunderstorm activity with gusty wind and light to moderate rain will also continue for another five days, according to IMD’s midday bulletin.

Yellow alert has been issued for several districts during this period.Thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is likely to occur at one or two places in Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput, Puri, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur till 8.30 am on Friday. Light to moderate rain or thunderstorm may occur at a few places in Gajapati, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Rayagada and at one or two in remaining districts of the state.

There is a forecast for thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph on June 4-5.

The MeT office further tweeted that conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of South Arabian Sea, Maldives and Comorin area, South Bay of Bengal, Eastcentral Bay of Bengal & some parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal during next 48 hours.

June 1 is the normal date for monsoon arrival in Kerala. But the IMD has forecast a marginally delayed onset on June 4.