Odisha braces for heatwave as temperatures soar in several districts

Bhubaneswar, March 28: With the return of scorching heat, Odisha is experiencing rising temperatures, with Jharsuguda and Sambalpur recording 39°C and 38°C, respectively, by 11:30 AM on Friday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that heatwave conditions may persist due to dry and warm northerly and north-westerly winds.

A yellow warning has been issued for Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Boudh, Balangir, and Kalahandi on March 29 and 30, with temperatures expected to remain high. Additionally, the IMD has predicted a 2-3°C rise in both day and night temperatures across Odisha in the next 24 hours. Dry weather is likely to persist on March 31 and April 1, while light rain or thundershowers may occur in Koraput, Malkangiri, and Rayagada on April 2 and 3.

On Thursday, Jharsuguda was the hottest at 41.4°C, followed by Sambalpur (40°C) and Hirakud (40.1°C). Bhubaneswar also recorded 38.5°C, with dense fog reducing visibility to 50 meters at the city’s airport. The capital’s temperature is expected to touch 39°C by late afternoon.