BHUBANESWAR: Odisha is set for a brutal summer as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a significant jump in heatwave days during the April-May-June period. The state experiences around 11 heatwave days between April and June but this year, it may record 17 to 25 heatwave days during the three months.
In its seasonal outlook for hot weather season (April to June), the national weather forecaster said areas prone to Odisha is among the eight states that would witness increased heatwave days. The others are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, north Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
Director General of IMD Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said Odisha normally experiences one to three heatwave days in April but this year, it may witness in the range of two to eight heatwave days.
Mohapatra also pointed out that coastal regions experience humidity up to 65 per cent and its level further increases during May. “El Nino condition will prevail in April and May but it will become neutral during monsoon,” he added.
El Nino creates dryer and hotter summers and this means the country is expected to witness sweltering heat as it heads to general elections in the coming days. With the polls starting mid-May, officials, political leaders, workers and voters will have to bear the brunt of scorching heat.
Heatwave for Odisha from April to June
Above normal maximum temperature and heat higher wave number of days are expected in the state from April to June.
Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the state during the period. There will be no respite from the sweltering condition during nights too, as minimum temperature is expected to remain above normal in the state between April and June.
Meanwhile, the regional met office has issued this year summer’s first heat wave warning for a few places in Jajpur, Bhadrak, Nayagarh, Boudh, Sonepur, Kandhamal and Cuttack districts on Thursday and Friday.
Due to prevailing north-westerly/westerly dry air and high solar insolation, maximum temperature is likely to rise by 2 degree to 4 degree Celsius in Odisha during the next two days. The maximum temperature is expected soar past 40 degree C at many places and it will be above normal by 3 degree to 5 degree C between Thursday and Saturday.
The met office has advised citizens to take precautionary measures while going outside between 11 am and 3 pm. The nights, too, will be warmer in the state between Tuesday and Friday. Minimum temperature is expected to gradually rise by 2 degree C to 3 degree C during next two to three days at many places in the state.