Bhubaneswar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded orange alert for heat wave in 21 districts in the State for the next two days.
"An east-west trough at mean sea level runs from East Uttar Pradesh to west Assam. Under the influence of dry westerly winds prevailing in the lower levels and local heating and contraction of dry air near surface level, heat wave conditions are most likely at many places with isolated severe heat wave at isolated places to prevail over the districts of north Interior and adjoining south interior and some districts of coastal Odisha during next two days," said Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre of the IMD in its mid-day special bulletin on Wednesday.
The orange warning issued on Wednesday predicted heat wave conditions likely to occur at isolated places over the districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Khordha, Sonepur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Kalahandi and Nuapada on April 1 and 2.
The impact will increase the likelihood of heat illness symptoms in people exposed to direct heat and doing heavy work, said the Met Centre in its latest bulletin adding that vulnerable categories such as infants, elderly, and people with chronic diseases are posed with high health concerns.
The bulletin also advised people to avoid heat exposure, keep cool and avoid dehydration.
The Met Centre also informed that light to moderate rain or thundershower is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Gajapati, Kendrapara and dry weather is expected to prevail over the rest districts of Odisha on April 3.
The IMD has also issued yellow warning for thunderstorm and lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching 30 to 40 kmph which is very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack on April 3.
On April 4, the weather office has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershower at one or two places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati,Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Koraput, Rayagada and dry weather over the rest districts of Odisha.
Similarly, yellow warning for thunderstorm with lightning with gusty surface wind speed reaching up to 30 to 40 kmph at one or two places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khordha and Ganjam districts.
Meanwhile, the highest maximum temperature of 44.6 degree Celsius was recorded at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district while lowest minimum temperature of 17 degree Celsius was recorded at Phulbani in the past 24 hours, said the Bhubaneswar Met Centre.
Due to steep pressure gradient strong surface wind speed reaching 40 to 50 kmph is very likely over North Bay of Bengal off Odisha Coast. Therefore, the Met Centre has cautioned fishermen not to venture into the sea over these areas during next 24 hours.
On the other hand, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and Chief Secretary of the State Government has alerted all district Collectors about the heat wave and advised them to take steps to circulate the message among the public.
The SRC and CS have also asked the Collectors to monitor the situation closely and take necessary actions in case of any eventuality.