Bhubaneswar: Odisha needs to brace up for facing another gruelling summer this year. Hot and humid spell in March to May period may grow ‘Loonggerr’.
After the Asia Pacific Climate Centre prediction of above normal summer this year, the national weather forecaster, India Meteorological Department (IMD), has released its Summer 2025 outlook predicting more days of heat wave in store for Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The IMD summer 2025 outlook has clearly stated the anomaly of heat waves in the said states will be more by 6-15 days over and above the normal heat wave days the state experienced during the period last 10-year period. (see the image below)
IMD SUMMER 2025 OUTLOOK
Predicting an ever hot and humid days this summer, the IMD has predicted the following.
- During the upcoming hot weather season (March to May (MAM)), above-normal maximum temperatures are most likely over most parts of the country, except
- over southern parts of Peninsular India, and
- isolated pockets of Northeast India
- These regions will record a cooler summer this year
- The Summer outlook says
- During the summer season (MAM), above-normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country except
- Some isolated southernmost regions of Peninsular India where normal minimum temperatures are likely.
- The IMD predicts a cooler summer for the following states/districts.
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala, excluding north Kerala
- South Karnataka
- West Bengal
- Mayurbhanj, Odisha
ODISHA HEAT EPICENTRE OF INDIA
The IMD prediction comes as a gruelling reminder as the State has now emerged as the heat epicentre of India.
As per IMD data, in the year 2015, west Rajasthan has the highest heatwave days totalling 24 in the 90-day period of March to May.
The drought hit part of Maharashtra – Vidharbha – was at the second with 15 heat wave days.
Odisha with 14 heat wave days occupied the third hottest spot in the country.
In 2016, Odisha had recorded 20 heat wave days to occupy the second hottest spot in the country.
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT?
A look at the IMD data discounts the notion that climate change is behind the rising heat wave days in Odisha. The reason is given below.
As per the IMD data, heat wave days in Odisha had decreased from year 2017 to a big ZERO in the Covid-19 hit year 2020.
Had the rising heat waves been due to climate change, the number of heat wave days in the State would have increased year after year.
The twist the State witnessed post Covid-19 has been that the heat wave days have increased in such a proportion that Odisha emerged as the country’s hottest State in 2024.
ODISHA MAY RECORD 44 HEAT WAVE DAYS IN 2025!
Last year in 2024, Odisha with 37 heat wave days emerged as the country’s hottest State. Odisha was followed by Uttar Pradesh and Gangetic West Bengal.
As per the Summer Outlook 2025 released by IMD, Odisha will see anomaly of 5-9 more heat wave days during the 90-day long summer.
This shows the Summer 2025 in Odisha may record around 44 days of heat wave days during the 90 day long hot season.
The worrying fact is the IMD data shows the State is witnessing longer spell of heat wave days during the last 2 summers. The data below shows State witnessing gruelling summer for longer duration during 2023 and 2024, which is highest in the country.
- 2021 – longest heat wave spell – 3 days
- 2022 – longest heat wave spell – only 1-day
- 2023 – longest heat wave spell – whopping 14 days
- 2024 – longest heat wave spell – reached high at 18 days
As the year 2025 is going to be above normal, Odisha may have to brace for the longest heat wave spell this year.
