BHUBANESWAR:Even as mercury threatened to sear the City with its rising trend, a norwester put paid to its plans and pulled down the temperature on Thursday afternoon.
Strong wind accompanied by rain and hails lashed the Capital for about 45 minutes and disrupted normal life. The City recorded about 23 mm rain during the thundershowers which led to uprooting of trees, power shutdown and water logging at many places.
Before the 'kala baishakhi' could hit at about 3 pm, the City was set for a hot day. The maximum day temperature was recorded at 39.5 degree Celsius, at least half a degree more than Wednesday and four degree above normal. The India Meteorological Department though had issued a thundersquall warning for some parts of the State.
While the norwester brought some solace to the denizens, other parts of the State saw the mercury making a gradual rise. Titlagarh, Balangir and Angul recorded above 40 degree C while seven other stations reported 39 degree-plus temperature.
The weather office has predicted thundershowers over some parts of the State over the next 24 hours but dry conditions will return again from April 4. The mercury may show a rising trend by May 6, it said.