Bhubaneswar experienced its highest temperature of the season on Thursday, reaching 42.2 degrees Celsius, with the real feel index soaring to a blistering 52 degrees Celsius by mid-afternoon. The real feel, which measures how heat actually feels on the skin, was exacerbated by a high humidity level of 76 percent recorded at 8:30 am. The oppressive conditions made life difficult for residents, but a thundershower in the evening provided much-needed relief, also reducing humidity to 60 percent by 5:30 pm.
Impact of Intense Heat
The intense heat during the day emptied the streets and forced residents to stay indoors. Hot winds and a scorching sun made stepping outside nearly unbearable. People felt the heat acutely while riding motorcycles, and even standing under the shade of trees or rest sheds offered little respite as a heatwave swept the city. Similar conditions prevailed in other parts of Odisha, with at least 25 places recording maximum temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
Chintamani Pradhan, a resident of Nayapalli, described his experience: "I felt like my face was burning while returning from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar in the afternoon." The evening thundershower brought down the temperature slightly, allowing residents to gather at roadside tea shops, known locally as 'chai khatis,' across the city.
IMD Warnings and Forecast
Manorama Mohanty, Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar, stated that many places across the state, including the capital, experienced maximum temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. Similar conditions are expected to prevail at various locations until May 25. The maximum temperatures are at least 3 degrees Celsius above normal, accompanied by above-normal relative humidity, according to an official statement from IMD Bhubaneswar.
An orange warning has been issued for four districts: Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Balangir, and Nayagarh for Friday, with heatwave to severe heatwave conditions very likely at isolated places. Additionally, a yellow warning has been issued for Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bargarh, Angul, Sonepur, Boudh, and Sundargarh districts, where heatwave conditions are very likely at isolated places. Mohanty added that warm night conditions are very likely to prevail at isolated places over Sambalpur and Balangir districts on Friday.
Hot and humid conditions are very likely to prevail at isolated places over the districts of Balasore, Jagatsinghapur, Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Khurda in the next 24 hours.
Residents are advised to take necessary precautions against the heatwave, stay hydrated, and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours.
