Bhubaneswar: While interior Odisha is reeling under an unprecedented heat wave, the Met department today said severe heat wave conditions in the coastal belt would continue till next 24 hours.
Dr Sarat Chandra Sahu, Director, Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, said severe heat wave conditions would continue in interior Odisha today.
While mercury soared to 47.5 degree Celsius in Titlagarh yesterday, the highest temperature recorded in the state this year, temperature went up steeply in coastal district.
“As the wind has changed its direction and is flowing from the west and north-west direction in the upper air at an increased speed, there is a sudden rise in temperature. As per the model indicator, there will be no change in the weather in interior Odisha while temperature would soar in coastal Odisha as wind flow from the sea towards the surface area would be obstructed by the north-westerly wind,” Sahu said.
But he said there is a possibility of Kalabaisakhi (thunder storm) in the coastal belt from April 26 onwards as the wind speed is likely to decrease.
“Generally, Kalabaisakhi occurs when the sea breeze blowing towards the surface carries water vapours from the sea which goes up in the air and forms cloud. But as the sea breeze is presently blowing towards the surface at a faster pace, it is unable to bring enough water vapours. It is expected that he wind speed will come down in the next two days which will be favourable for Kalabaisakhi in the south, north coastal belts,” Sahu pointed out.
Meanwhile, as per a Met release here this evening, mercury shot up to 40 degree Celsius above in 18 places in the state with Titlagarh remaining the hottest place for the third consecutive day with 48 degrees. This western Odisha town had recorded 47.5 degrees on Friday.
Other places which recorded 40 degrees and above are Balasore (44.2), Chandbali (42.5), Cuttack (41.2), Bhubaneswar (41.5), Angul (45.1), Baripada (45.3), Jharsuguda (43.4), Keonjhar (43.5), Sambalpur (45), Sundergarh (44) Hirakud (44.3), Talcher (46.8), Bhawanipatna (45), Balangir (45.2), Phulbani (41.8), Malkangiri (44.2) and Sonepur (46).