Bhubaneswar: Spring appears to have given the state a miss this year with the day temperatures rising rapidly soon after a chilly winter sparking apprehensions of a scorching summer ahead.
Though the maximum temperature during February is usually between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius, the mercury level this time has touched 34 degrees Celsius mark at some places, the weatherman said. While Bhubaneswar recorded 33.3 degrees Celsius Friday, in Titilagarh in Bolangir district the mercury crossed the 34 degree mark Saturday.
Asked about the cause for the sudden surge in temperature, IMD director here Sarat Chandra Sahu said the wind direction has suddenly changed from north-west to south-west. “Change in wind patterns and foggy weather will be experienced for some days. We expect night temperature will also increase in a day or two,” Sahu said.
IMD records show that the temperature normally rises in the middle of March every year. If the conditions in the past two-three days are taken into account, the maximum temperature is likely to cross 37 degrees Celsius in February itself, the weatherman said, adding, in March it may touch 40 degrees Celsius mark.
IMD officials said that the temperature may fall if there is rain during the second week of February. But if there is none the heatwave may start early, Sahu said.
The maximum temperature was above 30 degrees Celsius in 19 towns of the state in the past 24 hours. Titilagarh (34) was followed by Sonepur (33.8), Malkangiri (33.6), Angul (33.7), Gopalpur (33.5), Bhubaneswar (33.3) and Sambalpur (32.9).
Cold conditions, however, continued in the interior parts of the state. Phulbani in Kandhamal district was the coldest place in the state at 5.5 degrees Celsius followed by Sundargarh at 8.5 degrees. PNN
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