Cool sea breeze brings evening reprieve

BHUBANESWAR: For the past five days, sweltering heat is making life uncomfortable in the morning, the heat unbearable around 3 pm but there is a sudden drop in the mercury level thereafter, making the evening considerably cooler.
The sharp variation in temperature, the IMD said, is because of southerly wind and moisture in the environment in the evening. Thus it brings about a pleasant change for the residents during the evening hours. Towards the end of April last year, Bhubaneswar and Puri experienced continued cold breeze in the evening for around 15 days.
Experts said because of coastal climatic factors such as sea wind is an added advantage in the evening compared to similar temperature in day time but hotter evenings in western parts of Odisha, where hot air keep blowing until 9 at night.
IMD Bhubaneswar director H R Biswas said the variation in temperature is going to stay close to May end. “It is basically sea-triggered cooler wind in the evening. This is going to last for some days in May. However, people will experience humidity during the day,” he said.
“When people feel exhausted because of humidity and heat, in the evening they experience a cooler summer. Humid condition is making us sweat fanned by hot winds. However, a bit of cool air in the evening is bringing some relief,” said Bidhan Sahu, a city resident.
Some experts also attributed the cooler evening to increase of green space that was propelled by beautification ahead of men’s hockey World Cup.
Last monsoon, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) launched a massive plantation drive in 77 parks, 32 crematoriums and medians of arterial roads. More than 10, 000 trees were planted. Shed-bearing trees were planted mostly in crematoriums. These green creations is also adding to cooling effect, experts said.