Odisha: Bhubaneswar sizzles at 43.8°C, 17 cities record max temp above 40°C

Bhubaneswar: Monday’s thundershowers across Odisha have offered a brief reprieve from the relentless heatwave that has gripped the state for the past week. The IMD regional center reported that temperatures soared to 40°C or higher in 17 locations, with Bhubaneswar reaching a scorching 43.68°C, making it the hottest spot in the state.

The IMD predicts favorable meteorological conditions for moderate thunderstorm activity over the next three days, accompanied by lightning, gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph, and scattered to isolated rainfall across Odisha.

Observations from various districts reveal soaring temperatures, with Paralakhemundi at 42.9°C, Baripada at 42.6°C, and Nuapada at 42.4°C, among others. Dry air and intense solar radiation are likely to maintain temperatures of 40°C or higher over interior districts for the next two days, with some areas experiencing above-normal temperatures by 3 to 5°C.

The IMD’s special bulletin attributes the potential thunderstorm activity to the interaction between the middle tropospheric westerly trough and lower-level moist air from the Bay of Bengal, creating conducive conditions for thunderstorms, strong winds, and rainfall.

Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre reports ongoing heatwave conditions in certain districts like Khordha, Kendrapada, Jajpur, and Jagatsinghpur. This marks the eighth consecutive day of heatwaves in the state, with Odisha already surpassing its usual count of 1 to 3 heatwave days for April 2024, having experienced 10 such days. Last year saw 5 heatwave days in April, according to IMD scientists.