Odisha endures this year’s record temperature amid heat wave

Odisha is witnessing an unprecedented heat wave, with day temperatures climbing above 45°C for the first time this year. Jharsuguda witnessed the highest temperature at 45.4°C, official sources said on Monday.

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Sambalpur experienced a searing 43°C, followed closely by Hirakud at 42.4°C and Rourkela at 42°C. Temperature readings in Keonjhar reached 38.3°C, with Chandbali recording 38.2°C and Balasore at 37°C. The state capital Bhubaneswar, recorded a relatively lower but still sweltering temperature of 36°C.

The situation has led to heightened concerns over climate patterns and public health in the State, as residents brace for continued high temperatures.

Odisha's twin cities, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, endured some of the most uncomfortably hot and humid weather in the country.

While this might appear as a straightforward consequence of their tropical location, the reality is significantly more complex. A combination of the natural geography, evolving meteorological patterns, and unrelenting urbanisation drives the increasingly inhospitable climate experienced in these cities.

Rising humidity: Hard numbers

According to British air quality analysis firm HouseFresh, Bhubaneswar's humidity reached 99.1% in 2022, while Cuttack recorded 98.9%, placing them just behind Patna (99.2%) as India's second and third most humid cities. In 2024, weather data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed that Bhubaneswar frequently crossed 80% humidity thresholds even in non-monsoon months, peaking at 96% on multiple April nights.

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Similarly, Cuttack witnessed consistent early morning humidity levels between 92% and 97% during the March-May period. Daytime temperatures simultaneously breached 40 degrees Celsius, raising the heat index to extreme levels, thereby making outdoor activity difficult and heat stress increasingly common.