Western Odisha boils as Sambalpur records 37.7 degrees by 11:30 AM

A prevailing heatwave has intensified in western Odisha, with temperatures soaring higher today compared to yesterday at most places in the region. Notably, by 11:30 am today, Sambalpur recorded a temperature of 37.7 degrees Celsius, whereas at the same time yesterday, the mercury stood at 36.6 degrees Celsius, indicating a rise and intensification of heat by nearly one degree Celsius daily.

IMD’s forecast predicts intense heat for Western Odisha:

In its latest forecast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated that there will likely be no respite from the scorching heat in the next five days. It further predicted that in some places of the state, the temperature may reach 42 degrees Celsius, with western Odisha experiencing the most severe heatwave conditions.

Cities on boil:

The IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre detailed that in the last 24 hours, Jharsuguda emerged as the hottest place in the state, with mercury levels crossing 41.8 degrees Celsius. Similarly, Boudh Sonepur and Bhawanipatna (40.5), Titlagarh and Bolangir (41), Sundargarh and Hirakud (40.1), Sambalpur (40.3), and Angul (41.1) were the other places in Odisha where temperatures crossed 40 degrees Celsius yesterday.

Over the same period, Rourkela (39.4), Cuttack (38.2), and Bhubaneswar (37.2) degrees Celsius were some other major settlements that reeled under intense heatwave conditions.

ALSO READ: Severe heat wave alert for Odisha districts; hot and humid conditions in Cuttack, Khordha

Red, orange, and yellow warnings issued by IMD:

The IMD has issued heatwave alerts as follows:

March 15: 

Red alert for Kalahandi, Sambalpur, and Jharsuguda

Orange alert for Boudh, Sonepur, Angul, Sundargarh

Yellow alert for Cuttack, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Bolangir, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj

March 16:

Red alert for Kalahandi, Sambalpur, and Jharsuguda

Orange alert for Boudh, Sonepur, Angul, Sundargarh

Yellow alert for Cuttack, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Bolangir, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj