Bhubaneswar becomes the sixth hottest city in Asia on April 5, Second in India

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s capital city, Bhubaneswar, is experiencing scorching temperatures as dry westerly winds sweep across the state, pushing mercury levels to unprecedented heights. Today, Bhubaneswar became the sixth hottest city in the Asian continent and emerged as the second hottest city in India.

Over the past 24 hours, the temperature in Bhubaneswar surged by a staggering 7 degrees, reaching a sweltering 43.5 degrees Celsius. This meteorological anomaly has left residents grappling with oppressive heat and discomfort.

Chauk in Myanmar took the lead as the hottest place in the continent, recording a scorching temperature of 45.7°C on Friday. Notably, four locations from Myanmar secured positions in the top five hottest places, while Nandyal in India clinched the fourth spot with a temperature of 43.7°C.

Bhubaneswar’s soaring temperatures have propelled it to the forefront of India’s heatwave, closely trailing behind Nandyal and sharing the spotlight with Kurnool city, both registering a scorching 43.5°C, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Umashankar Das, an expert from the Regional Meteorological Center, highlighted the alarming frequency of extreme temperatures in Bhubaneswar. Since 1985, the city has witnessed temperatures surpassing 43°C on six occasions, with two instances breaching the 44°C mark and three instances crossing 45°C.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Bhubaneswar was a blistering 45.8°C on April 11, 2016. The city has experienced several instances of extreme heat, including 44.1°C on April 1, 2021, and 43.9°C on April 30, 1991, among others.

This year, the El Niño phenomenon has contributed to rising global temperatures, with sea surface temperatures soaring 4-5 degrees above normal. Coupled with dry surface weather conditions, this has led to a significant spike in daytime temperatures across coastal cities in the Asian continent.

With the IMD’s forecast predicting continued heatwave conditions throughout the month, the Regional Meteorological Center has issued an alert, urging the public to take necessary precautions. District administrations have been placed on high alert to mitigate the impact of the intense heatwave gripping the region.