Odisha reels under heatwave-like conditions

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 19:

With the mercury breaching three-year recorded on Thursday for being the hottest day in this month, the day temperature continued to hover around 40 degrees Celsius in the Odisha capital today.

Odisha braces for heatwave-like conditions for at least a week followed by marginal drop in day temperature in next couple of days.

“February and March are considered as winter season. It satisfies the heatwave conditions as the day temperature is beyond 39 degrees Celsius. The temperature is over seven degree above normal temperature than usual during this time. The hot conditions would prevail for two more days where the day temperature would be high. The mercury would drop by one or two degrees from February 22 onwards,” Regional Meterological Office Director Sarat Chandra Sahu said.

Maximum temperature in as many as 13 places across the state recorded over 37 degrees Celsius today with Bhubaneswar, Angul and Malkangiri registering 39.3, 39.1, 38.8 degrees Celsius respectively.

The other places in the state which recorded temperature over 37 degrees Celsius are–Bhawanipatna (38.5), Talcher (38), Sonepur (37.6), Titlagarh (37.5), Chandbali (37.4), Balasore (37.2), Dhenkanal (37.1), Hirakud (37.1), Cuttack (37), Bolangir (37),

People remained indoors and the vehicular traffic was reduced significantly in the day.

“It’s too hot during the day. We wrap around scarfs and carry water bottles to get some respite from the scorching heat. It’s just February and it feels like summer season,” said a resident of Bhubaneswar.

Today, temperature in capital city moved up marginally to 39.3 degrees Celsius as compared to 39.2 degrees Celsius yesterday.

“The present weather conditions can be mainly attributed to the presence of the anti-cyclonic circulation over Odisha along with very light winds. Besides, the rapid urbanisation is one of the reasons for the abnormal change in climate,” Sahu added.