Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, made history on Wednesday as it recorded its lowest maximum temperature for the month of March, according to data released by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The city witnessed a maximum temperature of 19.2 degrees Celsius, breaking a 54-year-old record.
Previously, Bhubaneswar had reported its lowest maximum day temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius on March 6, 1970. However, this record was shattered today with the mercury plummeting to 19.2 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest recorded maximum day temperature for the month of March from 1952 to 2024, as stated by the IMD.
Historical data reveals that the lowest maximum day temperature in March was recorded at 15.2 degrees Celsius on March 4, 1990, while it peaked at 25.7 degrees Celsius in March 2008. On March 5, 1990, and March 30, 1998, Bhubaneswar witnessed temperatures of 27.1 and 27.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.
In recent years, the city has experienced fluctuating temperatures in March. Notably, the lowest maximum day temperatures of 27.5 and 27.7 degrees Celsius were recorded on March 9, 2017, and March 8 of the same year, respectively. Additionally, Bhubaneswar saw temperatures of 27.8 degrees Celsius on March 11, 2016, and 28.1 degrees Celsius on March 12, 2005.
Meanwhile, neighboring city Cuttack also made headlines by breaking its all-time record for the lowest maximum day temperature in March since 1902. The previous record of 23.6 degrees Celsius, set on March 6, 1970, was surpassed as Cuttack recorded a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.