Bhubaneswar: After some relief, the heatwave condition is all set to return to the state, with the Met department predicting rise in day temperatures from May 7.
Director of Bhubaneswar Met Centre Sarat Chandra Sahu said due to thunderstorms and rain, temperatures had dipped across the state. However, the mercury will again start rising in the interior pockets of the state from Saturday, he said, adding: “The mercury will start soaring in all places from May 7.”
A maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius was recorded at Sonepur Friday – the highest in the state. Temperatures at Bolangir and Sambalpur were 39.5 degrees and 39 degrees respectively; however, it remained below 39 degrees in all other places of the state.
Thunder squall accompanied by hail and gusty surface wind reaching up to 50-60 kmph was likely in one or two places in coastal Odisha and the adjoining districts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Rayagada, Gajapati and Kandhamal during the next 24 hours.
Asked about the possibility of a severe storm, the weatherman replied: “There is no such possibility as the wind speed has decreased.” However, he added that low-intensity thunderstorms may occur in some parts of the state.