Heat Wave Conditions Over Odisha Next Three Days, Severe Heat Likely At Few Places

Pre-monsoon heat is catching up a little earlier than normal for the state of Odisha and neighboring region. Interiors of the state have breached the 40°C mark at many places. These temperatures are 5°C-7°C above the normal and therefore amount to heat wave conditions. These conditions are likely to persist for the next three days and ease out thereafter.

Boudh, an administrative district of Odisha, having close proximity to the river Mahanadi, was the hottest place in the country yesterday. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 43.5°C, over 5°C above the normal. The interiors of Odisha have been reeling under heat wave conditions and will witness extreme temperatures for the next three days. In the past 24 hours, the cities exceeding 40°C include: Jarsuguda-42°C, Bolangir-41.7°C, Angul-41.1°C, Titlagarh-40.5°C, Sundergarh-40.3°C, Sambalpur-40°C, Sonepur-40°C. All these stations have the day maximum in excess of normal by 5°-7°C. These sizzling temperatures will amount to heat wave conditions in most of the interior parts and severe heat in a few places in the state.

The anticyclone pushing moist winds to mitigate heat has been displaced far to the east over the North Bay of Bengal. Dry and hot land winds from the central parts and Indo-Gangetic plains have been sweeping the interiors of Odisha. These winds have access to neighboring states as well, including Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, Telangana and Rayalaseema. A heat wave in some pockets is likely over these regions for the next few days.

The state of Odisha will get some relief between 20th March and 23rd March 2025. A cyclonic circulation is likely over parts of East Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during this period. The anticyclone over the Bay of Bengal will pump in moist winds along and off the coastline of Odisha, resulting in a convergence zone over a large area over the eastern and central parts. Odisha will have rain and thundershowers between 20th and 23rd March. The weather activity will be light and scattered on 20th and 23rd March. Fairly widespread thundershowers with hailstorms at a few places are likely on 21st and 22nd March. Heat wave conditions will abate, albeit temporarily, during this period. Broad clearance in the weather activity is expected on and after 24th March. Following this, another round of rising temperatures is likely during the last week of the month.