Bhubaneswar: Thunderstorm activities across Odisha brought relief from the intense heat, with day temperatures dropping below 40°C in most places except Sambalpur and Boudh on Thursday.
Sambalpur recorded 40.0°C while Boudh was the hottest at 42.8°C. Other major towns reported lower temperatures, with Jharsuguda at 38.8°C, Angul at 37.1°C, Titlagarh and Nuapada both at 39.0°C, and Hirakud at 39.6°C.
In the twin city, Bhubaneswar recorded 38.9°C and Cuttack 37.4°C.The India Meteorological Department has issued an Orange Warning for Friday, asking people to be prepared to take action.
Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds reaching 50-60 kmph are very likely at one or two places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Sundargarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh districts.
A Yellow Warning has also been issued for Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Sonepur, Boudh, Nuapada, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nawrangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts, where thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 40-50 kmph are likely at isolated places.
The IMD further said hot and humid conditions are very likely to prevail at isolated places over Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, and Nayagarh districts.