BHUBANESWAR: Brace for the first surge of the blistering summer as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued heatwave warning from next week for the state. Over the next four to five days, the maximum day temperature is expected to jump by 4 to 6 degrees Celsius.
According to the national weather body, a heatwave may prevail in western districts between Monday and Wednesday. Hot conditions are likely in Bargarh district, while a few places in Balangir may experience a heatwave on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sambalpur too may witness a heatwave on Wednesday. The Met office has also predicted hot and humid conditions in other parts of the state, including coastal districts, over the next six days. Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati could see an appreciable jump in temperature between Sunday and Friday.
A rise in temperature by 4.5°C to 6.4°C above the normal seasonal average is considered a heatwave event for a place.
Director of Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, Manorama Mohanty, said many parts of the state had received relief from hot and humid conditions as the mercury had dropped this week due to nor’wester rains. The rainfall activity is expected to reduce from next week onwards and, coupled with clear sky conditions, may lead to a heatwave in western districts, she added. The coastal districts, meanwhile, may reel under hot and humid conditions due to moisture availability.
There is likely to be no respite in the subsequent week too, as the regional Met office has indicated that the maximum day temperature is likely to be above normal over most parts of Odisha between April 17 and 23. Day temperature is likely to be in the range of 36°C to 40°C over coastal and adjoining districts and 40°C to 44°C over most parts of interior districts in the third week of the month. On the day, Titilagarh emerged as the hottest place in the state at 39.5°C, followed by Paralakhemundi at 39°C. The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 37.7°C and 37°C respectively. The maximum day temperature in the state capital is likely to hover around 38°C on Sunday.
In its seasonal outlook for the April-June period, the IMD has forecast above-normal heatwave days in Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Usually, the state witnesses around 11 heatwave days between April and June.
scorching summer
4°C to 6°C jump in maximum day temperature
Heatwave in western
Odisha districts
Hot and humid conditions in coastal pockets
Heat run to spill into next week
State sees 11 heatwave days in April-June