Bhubaneswar, May 18: The southwest monsoon has made further progress, covering more areas of the Arabian Sea, the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and parts of the Bay of Bengal.

While this signals the seasonal shift, Odisha continues to reel under intense heat, with scorching temperatures and oppressive humidity making daily life difficult.

Across the state, the heatwave has tightened its grip. From early morning, unbearable heat has forced residents indoors, with many finding it impossible to step out after 7 am.

The weather department has warned that temperatures will rise further over the next two days, intensifying the already harsh conditions.

Also read: Southwest Monsoon Advances Towards Andaman Sea

Adding to the challenge, the state is expected to experience the impact of Nor’wester (Kalbaishakhi) storms for the next seven days. These storms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, will bring temporary relief but also pose risks.

The Meteorological Centre has issued a yellow warning for 13 districts including Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, and Jharsuguda. These regions may witness thunderstorms with wind speeds of 40-50 km/h within the next 24 hours.

For Tuesday, warnings extend to eight districts — Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, and Ganjam — where similar conditions are expected.

The weather department predicts Kalbaishakhi activity across Odisha until May 24.

Meanwhile, temperatures continue to soar. By 11:30 am on Monday, Jharsuguda recorded a blistering 41.6°C, Sambalpur touched 39°C, Hirakud registered 38.6°C, Balasore stood at 38.2°C, and Bhubaneswar recorded 36.4°C. With the dual impact of heatwaves and thunderstorms, residents are bracing for a challenging week ahead.

While the advancing monsoon promises eventual respite, Odisha must endure a few more days of extreme weather before relief arrives.