Bhubaneswar: The heat wave has become longer in Odisha and the first extreme heat wave of this summer season was recorded in the state on Saturday. The highest temperature of the season that day was 45.2 degrees Celsius, which was recorded in Boudh and Baripada.
Both Baripada and Boudh emerged as the hottest places across the country that day, followed by Bankura (44.6 degrees Celsius) and Midnapore (44.5 degrees Celsius) in West Bengal. Both these places were believed to be among the hottest places around the world. The maximum temperature of Baripada was 7.1 degrees Celsius above normal.
“Severe heat was observed in Baripada and Boudh. Baripada has recorded such extreme weather before and the highest maximum temperature so far this month was 46.1 degrees Celsius on April 21, 2010,” said Umashankar Das, scientist at Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.
As the heat wave continues, 30 places in the state recorded temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or more, throwing life out of gear. At least 13 stations recorded temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius or more. Heat wave conditions were experienced in parts of Keonjhar, Boudh, Nuapada, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Nayagarh and Khurda districts that day.
Twin cities Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded a temperature of 40.5 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm and humidity levels at 70 per cent and 65 per cent respectively. The minimum temperature remained very high at many places. The minimum temperature in the state capital was 27.5 degrees Celsius, throwing life out of gear due to power cuts at many places.
The weather office said that on Sunday also the temperature will be around 40 degrees Celsius at many places in the state. In some districts the mercury is expected to be 3 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees Celsius above normal. The regional weather office has predicted that the maximum temperature in Bhubaneswar may remain around 42 degrees Celsius.
However, there will be no major change in the conditions in the next 24 hours and thereafter there may be a drop of 2 degrees to 3 degrees Celsius at many places in the state. Meanwhile, thunderstorm activity was recorded over the southern and adjoining coastal districts, bringing relief to some places. The weather office has predicted rain and thundershowers in parts of the state between Sunday and Thursday.
The weather office said the interaction of the mid-tropospheric western trough with low level moist air from the Bay of Bengal will trigger thunderstorm activity with lightning and strong surface winds over parts of Odisha within the next three to four days.
Mercury crosses 45 degrees Celsius in Boudh, Baripada
