Bhubaneswar: The mercury touched 40°C and above at six places in western Odisha in the last 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Monday.
Titlagarh was the hottest at 41.5°C, followed by Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi and Balangir at 41°C each, Jharsuguda at 40.7°C, Hirakud at 40.1°C and Sambalpur at 40°C.
With the heatwave likely to return to the state from April 15, the weather agency has forecast a rise in the day temperature by 2-4°C during the next 4 days. Meanwhile, hot and humid weather conditions may continue to prevail at isolated places on coastal districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati.
While the weather conditions in coastal areas are being attributed to high moisture levels, western districts of the state may experience heatwave conditions, courtesy clearer skies, amid a decrease in Nor’wester rains.
Heatwave warning
April 15: Balangir, Kandhamal, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur.
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pril 16: Balangir, Kandhamal, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Boudh, Angul and Sambalpur.
April 17: Balangir, Kandhamal, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Boudh, Angul, Nuapada, Nabarangpur and Sambalpur.
April 18: Balangir, Kandhamal, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Boudh, Angul, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal and Sambalpur.
April 19: Balangir, Kandhamal, Jharsuguda, Sonepur,Boudh,Sambalpur,Angul, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Sundargarh, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Deogarh and Keonjhar.
The national forecaster has predicted no large change in the weather conditions thereafter.
According to IMD’s extended range forecast, the day temperature in Odisha is very likely to be in the range of 36-40°C over coastal districts and adjoining districts, and 40-44°C over most parts of interior Odisha between April 17-23. “Maximum temperature departure is likely to be above normal over most parts of Odisha and above normal to appreciably above normal over western parts of north interior Odisha,” it added.
In its seasonal outlook for April to June, the national forecast has predicted above-normal heatwave days across Odisha. The state usually experiences around 11 heatwave days during this period.
The special relief commissioner’s (SRC) office has directed all collectors to advise citizens to take precautionary measures while going outside between 11 am and 3.30 pm till the sultry weather conditions prevail in the state.