The western and central Odisha has been a burning cauldron since March last week, But the usually hot State Capital seems to be breathing cool this year. Last year on this day, the City had sizzled at 40 deg C.
The weather history of Capital City shows that hotter days take seize of the city from the second fortnight of the month, except for the years 2013 and 2016.
On April 5, 2013, Odisha Capital turned a hot plate as the mercury went berserk and the maximum temperature was recorded at 42.2 deg C. But it was the year 2016 that still holds the all-time record for the city's hottest day in April. The temperature recorded was 45.8 deg C.
Last year, the city registered the highest mercury level of 43.3 deg C on April 25. A look at the last decade's April weather in Odisha Capital hints at rising mercury from the second fortnight of the month.
Today the City has recorded a maximum day temperature of 38.5 deg C, one degree above the April normal temperature. Jharsuguda has been the hottest in the State today with the mercury climbing to 44 deg C,
Will The Wind Change?
The coastal region of the State, including the Capital city, is yet to come under the heatwave sweep courtesy of the strong south-westerly wind from the Bay of Bengal towards northeast India. It is this wind pattern that seems to have stonewalled the march of the northwesterly winds toward the State Capital.
The velocity of the SW wind passing over Bhubaneswar is measured at around 18-22kmph. And the wind gust since April first week has been hovering between 35-42kmph.
The wind models predict the velocity dropping to around 14kmph in the day hours on April 16-18. And this drop in the daytime may make the mercury shoot up in the Capital City.
Capital Heat?
A glance at the models of IMD and NCEP reveals that Bhubaneswar will see the mercury shooting up to touch 40 deg C on April 16. The temperature will cool down again on April 19.
As per NCEP-GFS, the State Capital is all set to witness hotter days till April 17, though clouds will take their space on the skies at a higher level. Given that low-level cloud formation is not predicted, rainfall is unlikely in the city for the next three days.
However, from April 18 onwards, there is a high probability of cloud formation at a lower level in the atmosphere, the Capital city may record thundershowers between April 18 and 21.
Heat Wave
Even as the predicted heatwave spell in Bhubaneswar will have a short life span, there seems no respite for as many as 12 districts in the State.
On April 22, mercury will shoot up over 42 deg C in the 12 districts of Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Deogarh, Bargarh, Nuapada, Angul, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Jharsuguda.
Here is the max day temperature forecast.
- April 14 - Over 42 deg C in parts Nuapada and Kalahandi. Rest of the western Odisha and northern districts like Keonjhar to record 40 deg C
- April 15 - 40 deg C across western and northern Odisha.
- April 16 - Maximum temperature in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar will hover between 38-40 deg C. Parts of Bargarh and Jharsuguda may record over 42 deg C.
- April 17 -- 42 deg C in Bolangir, Boudh and parts of Nuapada. 40 deg C in the rest of Odisha except south and coastal region.