Bhubaneswar hits 43.5 degree Celsius, second hottest in India: IMD

Bhubaneswar: The temperature in the capital city of Odisha touched 43.5 degree Celsius on Friday, the second hottest city in India with Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, according to a report by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This temperature surge not only soared 7 degree Celsius above normal but also marked the highest April temperature in the past eight years.

Bhubaneswar last witnessed a similar maximum temperature of 43.5 degree celsius on April 29, 2016. However, the highest April daytime temperature stands at 45.8 degree celsius, recorded on April 11 the same year, as mentioned in the IMD report. Nandyal (Rayalaseema) in Andhra Pradesh topped the charts as the hottest city in the country for the day with a temperature of 43.7 degree Celsius, according to the report.

The IMD’s findings indicated that day temperatures in 25 more towns and cities hovered around 40 degree Celsius and above, with nine towns recording temperatures of 42 degree Celsius and higher. Parlakhemundi recorded the next highest temperature at 42.6 degree Celsius. The IMD forecast suggests that several places in the state could witness a rise in mercury levels by 2-3 degrees over the next two days.

Heatwave Warning

A heatwave warning has been issued for 14 districts, including Khurda, Cuttack, Keonjhar, and others, for Saturday. Additionally, warm night conditions are expected to persist in isolated places across nine districts on the same day. There’s also a possibility of thunderstorms at isolated places during the day.

The IMD bulletin highlighted that prevailing northwesterly or westerly dry air and high solar insolation continue to influence the rise in mercury levels in the state.