Bhubaneswar: The Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala on June 8, 2023, against the normal date of June 1. So, the monsoon is likely to delay reaching Odisha, IMD said on Saturday.
Director General of IMD Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told the media that sweltering heat and high humidity usually prevail before the arrival of monsoon.
“The southwest monsoon normally arrives in Odisha around June 12 and this has been delayed as it had hit the Indian mainland with onset over Kerala seven days behind schedule. There is a forecast for rain in Odisha from June 15. But no prediction has been made so far on the onset of monsoon over Odisha. It will be done in the next couple of days,” he said.
Meanwhile, very severe heatwave conditions continued to prevail in the state with mercury soaring to 44 degrees Celsius mark at eight places, Saturday.
According to a bulletin of India Meteorological Department (IMD), 20 places of Odisha recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius or above, of which eight places recorded above 44 degrees Celsius during the day.
Jharsuguda recorded the highest temperature of 44.8 degrees Celsius Saturday followed by Sambalpur and Boudh which recorded a maximum temperature of 44.6 degrees each.
The maximum temperature at Sonepur was 44.5 degrees, followed by Bargarh (44.4), Bolangir (44.3), Hirakud (44.2) and Sundergarh (44.1).
Similarly, western Odisha towns Bhawanipatna & Titlagarh witnessed a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius each, whereas it was 43 degrees at Rourkela.
The other places, which recorded a temperature of 40 degrees or more are—Phulbani, Nayagarh, Keonjhar, Talcher, Kendrapara, Malkangiri, Angul, Paralakhemundi and Baripada.
Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded a day temperature of 38.2 degrees Celsius each.
The IMD Saturday issued a yellow warning for heat waves for several places in Odisha.
The districts for which yellow warning has been issued are- Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sundragarh, Jharsuguda, Sonepur, Bolangir, Boudh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.
According to a bulletin issued by the weather office, there will be no large change in maximum temperature during the next four days and a slight fall thereafter over the districts of Odisha.
“Maximum temperature is very likely to be above normal by 3-5 degrees Celsius at a few places over the districts of Odisha during the next four days. Consequently, hot and discomfort weather is likely during the next four days,” the bulletin read.
People are advised to take precautionary measures (avoid heat exposure, keep cool, and avoid dehydration) while going outside during day time between 11 am to 3 pm, the weather office said in its advisory.
