2 days ago
High humidity makes life uncomfortable for people
Bhubaneswar: Oppressive humidity made life difficult in coastal districts with people reporting high levels of discomfort though temperature varied between 34°C and 38°C Monday.
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Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum of 37.6°C with relative humidity peaking at 89% in the morning and remaining at 58% by evening, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Some districts witnessed Nor'wester rain in the evening with one person dying in lightning strike in Jajpur district. Several other coastal districts like Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, and Kendrapara, also reported similar hot and humid conditions.
In Cuttack, the maximum temperature was 37.4°C with humidity ranging from 77% in the morning to 64% in the evening. Puri experienced 35.6°C with evening humidity as high as 77%.
According to weather scientists at IMD, by 11:30 am on Monday, Bhubaneswar recorded a temperature of 35.4°C with humidity at 68.4%. The heat index was 51°C. The measure of discomfort felt due to increased heat and humidity is known as heat index, IMD sources said.
Similarly, in Puri, where the day temperature was 36°C at 11:30 am and humidity 68.5%, the heat index was 53°C affecting normal life.
"Heat and humidity are unbearable and quite oppressive. Many elders and children fell sick due to such weather conditions. Even in the shade, it feels like we are suffocating. The sweating doesn't stop, and there is no relief unless you stay in an air-conditioned room," said Ranjan Pal, a tourist from West Bengal.
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The weather scientists attributed the discomfort to high atmospheric moisture content being pulled in from the Bay of Bengal. The synoptic situation shows the monsoon's northern limit now passing through Bhawanipatna and Puri, while an upper air cyclonic circulation over the south-east and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal may bring some rain to the state from Tuesday, IMD sources said.
The IMD has issued a yellow warning for several districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati, for hot and humid conditions over the next two days.
Besides, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty surface winds of 30 kmph to 40 kmph are expected at isolated places.
Even hilly and tribal-dominated districts like Koraput, Malkangiri, and Rayagada reported maximum temperatures above 36°C with humidity ranging from 70% to 87%. Rainfall has been patchy. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and nearby areas recorded traces of rain in the past 24 hours, but not enough to bring relief.
