BHUBANESWAR: A day after the weather office predicted a let-up in blistering conditions by the month-end, people of coastal Odisha were jolted by a sudden jump in mercury on Thursday. Bhubaneswar reported one of its hottest April days yet again with the maximum day temperature reading 45.3 degree Celsius while almost all the coastal stations recorded a significant rise in mercury. On April 11, the Capital had recorded 45.8 degree C, the hottest April day since 1952. Thursday’s temperature was the second highest. Along with it, Cuttack saw the mercury soars to 44.2 degree C, registering a two degree jump. Balasore, Chandbali, Paradip and Gopalpur also felt the pinch. While Western Odisha saw a dip in mercury, some parts of interior districts hotted up on the day. Sonepur and Talcher recorded the maximum day temperature of 45.4 degree C. The met office, which issued severe heat wave warning for some parts of coastal Odisha during next 48 hours, asserted that thecondition will be temporary. The weather models continue to predict a fall in temperature barring first two days of May 1, it said. Director of India Meteorological Department, Odisha, Sarat Chandra Sahu said, Thursday s conditionswere not surprising as it was impacted by a change in wind flow pattern.
“The south westerly wind which brings in coolerair and counters theheat stopped at around10.30 am after whichnorth-westerly wind from East Uttar Pradesh,Jharkhand and Chhattisgarhstarted. It raised the temperature significantly so much so that the heatingprocess continued till 3 pm,” Sahu said. This, he claimed, will not last and temperaturewill fall across the State. A troughline from north western parts of the country is moving eastwards.It will not only help control the temperature but also induce showers through Norwesters as the system will aid moisture flow.
Sahu said, temperature over coastal districts will remainaround 40 degree C whereas in the western pockets, it will hover around 42 degree C. Private forecaster Skymet also echoed the view and said May is likely to start on a rainy note bringing relief to Odisha and Telangana. Thundershower activities will pick up pace from May 2 and lead to an abatement of heat wave from most parts of the country, it added. “The much-needed activity is likely to continue for a week but intermittent rains will go on till first half of May. Thereafter, it will remain confined to northern and southern parts of the country,” Skymet added. Meanwhile, the sunstroke death toll rose to nine while the unofficial figure stands at 119.