Mercury crosses 40 degrees Celsius in Odisha for the first time this year

Bhubaneswar: For the first time this year, temperature at any place in Odisha crossed 40 degrees Celsius today. Maximum temperature at Balangir was recorded at 40.5 degrees Celsius, which is highest day temperature in the State.

Other two places recorded the maximum temperature at 40 degrees Celsius or above. Titlagarh and Angul recorded the day temperature at 40.2 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees Celsius, respectively.

As per the data provided by the Regional Meteorological Centre, another eight places in the State recorded maximum temperature at 39 degrees Celsius or above.

The met department has already issued heat wave warnings for several districts of the State for March 16, 17 and 18.

March 17: Heat wave condition is very likely to prevail at one or two places over the districts of Sonepur, Boudh, Bolangir, Angul, Nayagarh, Khurda, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda.

March 18: Heat wave condition is very likely to prevail at one or two places over the districts of Sonepur, Boudh, Bolangir, Angul, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda.

Maximum temperature (day temperature) is very likely to rise around 3 to 4 degrees Celsius during next two to three days and no large change thereafter. Maximum temperature will be above normal by three to five degrees Celsius at one or two places over the districts of Odisha during March 16 to 18, the Meteorological Centre had said.

The Meteorological Centre has advised people to take precautionary measures while going outside between 11 am and 3.30 pm in the districts.