Bhubaneswar: It seems the time is up for the wintry days in Odisha. The weathermen across the globe have come up with a prediction that is apparently hotter to handle.
The grim prediction is the months from February to April carry a high probability (50-60 per cent) of recording above normal temperature in India. For Odisha and south Indian states, the forecast is days will be hotter in March vis-a-vis the rest of the north Indian states in the country.
However, the long term forecasts have apparently delivered a piece of good news. The rainfall in the first two coming monsoon months (June – July) in Odisha will witness above-normal precipitation this year.
IMD FORECAST
As per the long-range forecast made by IMD numerical weather models, the mercury in Odisha will shoot up to touch over 32 degrees Celsius from February 25. The day time maximum temperature in the State is predicted to touch 34 degree Celsius from March 4. The districts that are likely to feel a hotter pinch are places in Ganjam, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Boudh, Subarnapur and Bolangir.
Meanwhile, the latest forecast by IMD, reveals that till February 17, the day time temperature in all the districts, except northern and north coastal Odisha, will record a maximum temperature of over 32 degree Celsius. But the nights are predicted to remain cooler.
RAINFALL: The long-range model forecast by IMD shows that Odisha will see light rains in the week starting from February 19 – 25, the State, however, is predicted to witness a dry run till the mid of March this year.
APEC MODEL
As per the long-range numerical model forecasts made by Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Climate Centre, the dry run (no chances of rainfall) in Odisha will continue even in the month of April. The prediction is there is a high probability (70-80 per cent) of below normal rainfall in Odisha during the months of February, March and April.
However, the model predicts a high probability (in the range of 50-60 per cent) of above-normal rainfall in Odisha in May, June and July.
HOTTER DAYS: The APEC prediction shows there is a moderate possibility (50 per cent) of below normal temperature in Odisha during the months of May, June and July.
However, the model assigns a very high probability (over 60 per cent) of Odisha recording hotter days (means above normal day time temperatures) during the months of February, March and April.
THE BOTTOM LINE: If weathermen's models are to be believed, then both - India's IMD and APEC Climate Centre - show a greater unanimity in predicting hotter days ahead in the coming month of March.