Bhubaneswar: Even as the mercury sizzled at a record level in the Capital City and the State as a whole in March this year, the torrid forecast here is come May 19 the State Capital will likely be under the grip of severe heat wave.
The searing heat spell is not a one-day show in the State. As per the extended range forecast by Indian Met Department’s long range models, the whole of Odisha will turn into a boiling cauldron as early as from the second week of May.
ERA OF HEAT WAVE
As per the multi model ensemble (MME) forecast, heat wave will first grip the north and north-coastal Odisha on May 10. The heat wave will then hit the Capital City with all ferocity on May 13. From May 18, the whole of State will turn into a blast furnace, the forecast says. And the heat wave conditions will continue till May 25, it added.
SPAN OF SEVERE HEAT WAVE
Odisha will not witness severe heat wave conditions till May 26, except for the three days – May 19, 21 and 25.
Assigning an around 30 per cent probability for the districts like Khurda, Cuttack and adjoining places that are predicted to witness severe heat wave conditions on May 19, the long range forecast predict a heat wave gripping the southern districts of Gajapati, Rayagada etc on May 21 and 25.
ANY RAIN HOPE IN SHINE?
Going by the IMD’ long range MME forecast, the whole of Odisha may witness some good rainfall in the last week of May. However, the extended forecast has no prediction of rainfall in the State till May 21.
THE GRACE PERIOD
A detailed glance at the long-range forecast shows that till the next weekend shutdown, the weather in Odisha will remain quite comfortable. Though the hot winds from western part of the country has commenced its journey towards Odisha, the incursion of sea wind into the landmass of the State will deflect the direction of the hot westerly winds, thus, sparing the people here from the searing heat wave.
As per the ECMWF forecast, the coastal districts in the State are likely to witness thunderstorm during the afternoon and evening hours till May 9.
THE CAPITAL WEATHER
May 2: There is a forecast of rain accompanied with thunder in the Capital City during the afternoon hours.
May 3: Along with Bhubaneswar, the adjoining coastal districts are predicted to record rain and thunder during the afternoon hours of 1-4pm.
May 4: As per the forecast, along with Bhubaneswar, districts like Bhadrak, Balasore, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Keonjhar etc will witness heavy rainfall accompanied with thunder.
APRIL OUTLOOK: As per IMD data, in the last week of April this year, Bhubaneswar has recorded its third highest maximum temperature when the mercury shot up over 43 deg Celsius. The April 2021 has turned hotter than April 2020, reveals the data.
HIGHEST RECORD: On April 11, 2016, the temperature recorded was 45.8 deg C.
LOWEST RECORD: On April 18, 2011, the maximum day temperature was 39.7 deg C.