Bhubaneswar: The prevailing heatwave conditions pushed the mercury levels to 40°C or more at five places in Odisha by 11.30 am on Wednesday, according to the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.
Jharsuguda was the hottest at 41.3°C, followed by Bhubaneswar (41.2°C), Sambalpur (40.6°C), Hirakud (40.4°C), Keonjhar (40°C), Rourkela (39.6°C), and Balasore (39.5°C).
At 8.30 am, Talcher had recorded the highest day temperature of 38.4°C. Bhawanipatna was close second at 37.4°C, followed by Baripada at 36.4°C, Balangir at 36.2°C, Titilagarh and Balasore at 36°C each, Hirakud at 35.6°C, Jharsuguda and Keonjhar at 35.4°C each, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Malkangiri and Boudh at 35°C each, Sonepur and Bhubaneswar at 34.8°C each and Rourkela at 34.6°C.
The weather agency has forecast heatwave to severe heatwave in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Angul, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, and Boudh. Heatwave conditions may also prevail in Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Sonepur, Nuapada, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Khurda, Nayagarh, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Gajapati, and Rayagada during the day. There is also warning for hot and humid weather in Koraput, Puri, and Ganjam districts.
On Tuesday, three Odisha cities, including state capital Bhubaneswar, were among the top 10 hottest cities of the world as the state continued to the bear the brunt of a blazing heatwave since the last 15 days, making it one of the longest spells since 2016. Baripada town of Mayurbhanj in Odisha was the hottest city in the country and the second hottest city in the world at 46.4°C, while Balasore recorded 46°C, its all-time highest, followed by Bhubaneswar at 45.4°C, its highest April temperature in the last eight years.
“The previous longest spell of 20 days in parts of the state was recorded from April 7 to 26 in 2016. The heatwave during this period had largely persisted over Chandbali,” director of the regional office here, Manorama Mohanty, said adding that uch long dry spell had persisted in Bhubaneswar from April 16 to May 5 in 2014.
According to the MeT office, the extreme heat will continue to torment the state till May 4. While red warning continues for two days, orange and yellow warnings remain during the subsequent two days. The day temperature is likely to remain 3-6°C above normal during the next 4-5 days due to prevailing northwesterly/westerly dry air and high solar insolation. People have been advised to take precautionary measures while going outside during peak hours of the daytime between 11am and 3pm.
The Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has also issued an advisory to district collectors to exercise adequate caution. They have also been asked to stay alert for handling any emergency situation arising out of the weather system even as there is no possibility of cyclone within the next 15 days.
Reviewing the situation at a high-level meeting convened by Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrat Sahu at the state secretariat, chief secretary Pradeep Jena recalled the devastation caused by cyclone Fani in May 2019 and added that the state was fully prepared to face any calamitous situation. in case of any change in weather condition.
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