Odisha: Sultry weather till monsoon arrives, says IMD

BHUBANESWAR: Rising humidity, coupled with high temperature, is causing an extremely uncomfortable atmosphere in the capital for the past few days, making residents sweat excessively and feel drained.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said the sultry weather condition will continue till June 11 when monsoon is scheduled to arrive in Odisha. Until then, occasional norwester-induced rain would not provide much relief, it added.
The southwest monsoon reached Kerala on Sunday, three days earlier than its usual date of arrival, June 1. The Met office said humidity levels are rising due to incursion of moisture from sea, making favourable conditions for the onset of monsoon in the state.
“As humidity level goes above 50%, it feels that the outside temperature is 48 degrees Celsius when the actual temperature is 37-38 degrees. Though there are chances of thunderstorm activities in the next few days, it will not provide much relief from the sweltering heat and humid conditions,” said Uma Shankar Dash, weather scientist at the IMD’s Bhubaneswar Centre.
In May, while humidity level increased to 70%, the maximum temperature in coastal areas hovered around 38 degrees Celsius, unlike the past two months when the city temperature crossed 42 degrees. On Sunday, the city’s relative humidity levels reached 78%. Health experts said weather condition turns uncomfortable when humidity level goes above 60%.
“It seems very difficult to stay without an air-conditioner in this weather. When outdoors, profuse sweating is leading to heat stroke and dehydration. Children are complaining of dizziness and nausea,” said Kakali Rath, a homemaker.
IMD sources said it is too early to predict the arrival of monsoon in Odisha. “We inform when the weather conditions become favourable for the arrival of monsoon in the state. We hope that monsoon will reach the state on its usual date of June 11,” said Das.