Residents grapple with heat, humidity amid weakened nor'wester impact

Time of India

20-05-2025

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Bhubaneswar: Residents of the capital city have been grappling with intense heat and humidity for the past few days. Despite conditions being ideal for a thunderstorm, no such weather activity was reported in the period.
By 8:30 am on Wednesday, Bhubaneswar recorded a temperature of 33.6 degrees Celsius with 62.3% humidity, taking the heat index (real feel) to around 42C. By 11:30 am, the city was sweltering at 37.4C with humidity dropping to 48.7%, yet the heat index peaked at a dangerous 46C. The measure of discomfort felt due to increased heat and humidity is known as the heat index, sources said.
"Cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and even Delhi and Kolkata are experiencing a new microclimate where
urban heat islands
, concrete expansion and loss of wetlands disrupt natural storm patterns," said Uma Shankar Das, weather scientist at IMD.
Explaining the phenomenon in an X post, Das said, "The Kalbaisakhi or Nor'wester system is still active in the state, but its power diminishes drastically as it approaches the capital region. This is due to the dry, dust-laden, stable air layers hovering at 2-4 km height, which block vertical cloud development."
The urban heat island effect creates localised high temperatures, altering air currents and storm behaviour, scientists said.
It is disrupting both the intensity and path of thunderstorms, which may weaken, split or even bypass urban areas altogether.
"I remember the summer storms a few years ago, which used to occur for a very short period with gusty wind, rain, and thunder, and that would suddenly cool down the entire city. Now, we wait endlessly for such relief," said Anuradha Sethi, a 58-year-old resident of Saheed Nagar.
"The heat has become unbearable.
It was impossible to stand outside for more than 10 minutes on Wednesday. The discomfort levels were very high with profuse sweating," said Tulika Panda, an MBA student.
IMD has forecast an alert for rain and thundershower in 13 districts till May 25. "Several districts are witnessing rain and thundershower and temperature remained below normal. In coastal districts, moisture is being pulled from the Bay of Bengal leading to high humidity levels. In the capital city, the upper layer is dry while moisture is in the lower level, for which rainfall is not occurring," said Manorama Mohanty, director of IMD's regional centre here.