Bhubaneswar: A day after mercury soared to 43°C amid the prevailing heatwave conditions, Odisha saw a slight dip in the day temperature on Saturday.
At least 13 places in the state recorded 40°C or more. Sambalpur was the hottest place in the state at 42°C, followed by Hirakud (41.7°C), Jharsuguda (41.6°C), Talcher and Boudh at 41.2°C each, Angul (41.1°C), Bhawanipatna and Titlagarh at 41°C each, Sonepur (40.5°C), Balangir and Paralakhemundi at 40.8°C each, Sundargarh and Malkangiri at 40.2°C each
Rourkela recorded 39.5°C, while twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were at 38.6°C and 37.2°C respectively.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued heatwave warning for Sambalpur, Jharsuguda,Sonepur, Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Angul, Dhenkanal on Saturday. Warning of hot and humid conditions was also sounded for at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati districts.
Heatwave conditions along with hot and humid weather under the influence of dry and warm northerly and north-westerly wind are likely to prevail in the state till Sunday.
According to the weather agency the day temperature may rise by 2-3°C during the next 2 days and thereafter fall by 2-3°C. It has also predicted rain and thundershower in several parts of the state between April 3 and April 5.
On Friday, at least 17 places in the state recorded 40°C or more. Jharsuguda was the hottest at 43°C, followed by Sambalpur (41.6°C), Hirakud, Balangir, Titlagarh and Boudh recorded 41.2°C each, Sundargarh (41.1°C), Dhenkanal and Angul recorded 40.9°C each, Talcher (40.8°C), Bhawanipatna, Sonepur and Paralekhemundi 40.5°C each, Rourkela, Baripada, Chandbali 40.4°C each and Bhubaneswar (40.2°C). Cuttack recorded 38.4°C.
Jharsuguda’s all-time high day temperature this month was 43.4 deg C on March 30, 2017.