BHUBANESWAR: The unrelenting heat wave has singed Western Odisha where day temperature soared way above normal setting new records for the region. Titlagarh, which emerged as the hottest point in the State on Sunday, had not experienced such April heat in last 10 years.
The maximum day temperature of 46.3 degree C in the western town was not just four degree above normal, it was the highest April temperature since 2006. On April 30, 1999, Titlagarh had recorded 48.1 degree C.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the region is hotting up since north-western India has seen a gradual increase in day temperature and westerly wind flow is bringing in the heat. Sonepur, which had recorded 46 degree on Saturday, registered 45.8 degree on the day. The story was the same for the entire region which reeled under the heat wave.
The heat wave has left the meteorology office bamboozled. On Sunday, all weather stations of the State, barring four, reported 40 degree Celsius or more which was an evidence of how strong have been the conditions this year.
“As per norms, we used to take normal temperature reading of just about two stations to declare heat wave. As on Sunday, almost all the stations have recorded well above normal,” said Director, IMD, Odisha Sarat Chandra Sahu.
In 2010, Odisha had reported 23 heat wave days in the month of April, the highest in the decade. This year, it could get close. So far, 10 heat wave days have been reported.
Sahu said there is no likelihood of the conditions abating at least for a week. The Western Disturbance from Northern India has moved away and the region has hotted up considerably. This, in turn, will affect the heat matrix across the Central and Peninsula India.
Over next 10 days, the day temperature over Western Odisha is expected to vary a degree or two, but overall conditions will remain unchanged. Similar conditions are expected over the coastal pockets.
The weather office said there is not enough moisture in the upper atmosphere to trigger thundershowers. Even if rain occurs, it would be very localised and will not affect the temperature.
Private weather forecaster Skymet said most parts of the country reeled under the intense heat wave. Even Himachal Pradesh was not spared. The absence of any rainfall activity has contributed to the rise in temperature.
“There is no relief likely over East, Peninsular and isolated parts of Central India as no weather system is expected to affect the region anytime soon,” Skymet said.