Just days after the Kalbaisakhi rains brought temporary relief, Odisha is once again baking under a fierce heatwave.
On Sunday, six cities crossed the 40°C mark, with Titlagarh emerging as the hottest spot at a blistering 41.5°C, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre.
Balangir and Bhawanipatna sizzled at 41°C, Jharsuguda recorded 40.7°C, Sambalpur 40.1°C, and Hirakud touched 40°C, confirmed Director Manorama Mahanti.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has now issued a stark warning: the traditional Odia New Year – Pana Sankranti on April 14 – could see temperatures touching a punishing 45°C in parts of the state. By April 16, the state capital Bhubaneswar is expected to hit 40°C, while interior districts could climb between 40°C and 44°C.
A yellow alert for heatwave conditions has already been issued for April 14 in select areas of Bargarh and Balangir districts. On April 15 and 16, heatwave conditions will grip Bargarh, Balangir, Jharsuguda, and Sambalpur, while the coastal belt will experience hot and humid weather. The discomfort is set to continue till April 19 in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Ganjam, and Gajapati districts.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to rise another 4–6°C over the next five days, with little relief in sight thereafter. Clear skies after last week’s western disturbances have turned up the heat, especially in western Odisha.
The seasonal outlook is equally worrying. The IMD has predicted above-normal heatwave days across Odisha from April to June, with the coast also likely to remain hot and humid.
As the mercury climbs relentlessly, the message is clear: the summer of 2026 has arrived with full force.
