Bhubaneswar: Widespread thunderstorms and rain brought relief from the sweltering heat in several parts of Odisha on Wednesday, even as 12 towns in the state recorded temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius or higher.
Thunderstorms accompanied by rain, lightning, and gusty winds were reported in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Bonai, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Boudh, Keonjhar, Baripada, Balasore, and other locations during the afternoon and evening, according to an IMD official.
The official indicated that lightning and rainfall are expected to occur in the south coastal, north coastal, and neighboring coastal districts of Odisha on Thursday.
Districts including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj will experience thunderstorms, lightning, and rainfall on Thursday, stated Manorama Mohanty, director of the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.
The IMD has issued an ‘orange warning’ (be prepared to take action) for these districts.
Forecasting similar weather conditions, the weather office has also issued a ‘yellow warning’ for Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabrangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh districts for May 28.
However, severe heatwave conditions are expected to persist in the state for the next few days, according to the report.
Heatwave conditions will continue in Sambalpur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Sonepur, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh districts on Thursday.
The IMD noted that the night would remain warm in Bolangir and Sambalpur districts.
On Wednesday, 17 towns in Odisha recorded maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above. Sambalpur was the hottest location in the state at 44.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Titlagarh at 43.5 degrees Celsius.
Sonepur recorded a temperature of 43.1 degrees Celsius, while Bolangir reached 43 degrees Celsius, Jharsuguda 42.7 degrees Celsius, Boudh 42.6 degrees Celsius, Bargarh and Hirakud both at 42.5 degrees Celsius, and Nuapada and Bhawanipatna at 42.2 degrees Celsius. Angul recorded 42.1 degrees Celsius, and Sundargarh reached 42 degrees Celsius.
