The heat wave intensified further on Tuesday with the temperature crossing above 40-degree Celsius mark in 15 towns and cities and Sonepur recording the highest 44.2 degree for the second consecutive day.
The temperature soared above 40 degree in Chandbali (43), Bhubaneswar (41.4), Angul (41.3), Baripada (42.4), Jharsuguda (42.7), Keonjhargarh (42.5), Sambalpur (43.3), Sundargarh (42), Hirakud (43.6), Talcher (43), Bhawanipatna (42.5), Balangir (42.5), Titlagarh (44) and Dhenkanal (42).
A release from the local Met office said the heat wave would continue for a week till May 20 due to the inflow of the hot westerly wind into the State. Meanwhile, the Met office informed that the southwest monsoon is most likely to touch the Odisha coast by the second week of June.
“Conditions are becoming favourable for advance of the southwest monsoon over South Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal around May 17 and the Kerala coast by May 30 from where it would take at least two weeks to reach the Odisha coast,” it added.