Weather Alert / Bhubaneswar Sizzles at 35°C as Winter Delays

Bhubaneswar, Oct 7: Unseasonal heat has gripped Odisha, leaving residents unsettled as temperatures soar well above normal in October.

Traditionally a month of transition marked by cooler mornings and the onset of winter, this year has brought scorching afternoons and record‑breaking highs.

In Bhubaneswar, the mercury has crossed 35°C, nearly 4 degrees above the seasonal average. Puri recorded 36.6°C on Tuesday, breaking a 130‑year record for October and marking the second‑highest daytime temperature in the city’s history for the month.

Also read: Odisha Faces Rain Threat as New Low Pressure Looms

By 11:30 am on Wednesday, temperatures stood at 35.2°C in Puri, 34.4°C in Bhubaneswar, 34.2°C in Chandbali and Balasore, and 34°C in Gopalpur.

Meteorologists attribute the unusual heat to the withdrawal of monsoon winds, the entry of dry air, and the absence of active weather systems.

With skies clearing after days of cloud cover and light showers, direct sunlight has intensified daytime heat. Rainfall, when it occurs, has been brief and insufficient to cool the atmosphere.

“Normally, October mornings bring a chill, but this year the heat persists. Daytime temperatures are 2 to 4 degrees higher than usual,” explained Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Meteorological Centre.

She added that while winter in Odisha is expected to be normal in intensity, its duration may be shorter this year.

Currently, minimum temperatures in areas like Daringbadi, Malkangiri, and Koraput hover between 20°C and 25°C. Experts predict no significant change in temperature over the next two days, keeping conditions uncomfortable.

Monsoon withdrawal has already occurred in parts of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, but Odisha is yet to see a complete retreat. With high moisture levels still present in the atmosphere, the state may take another two to three days before the monsoon fully withdraws.