Bhubaneswar, March 2: If morning shows the day, the mood of the mercury over the last few days hints at a gruelling summer. The weathermen have also predicted as much.

In its forecast issued a couple of days ago, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicting “above normal” temperature across the country this season. 

The IMD's summer forecast says that heatwave conditions would grip several states from March to May. The IMD has included Odisha among the states that comprise its core heatwave zone, where above normal conditions are likely to prevail this summer.    

With the temperature hovering around 37.7°C today, it has become obvious to residents here that the summer will be gruelling. The Met office said that today's temperature was four degrees more than normal. Weathermen also did not have words of comfort about the coming days as they predicted the temperature to rise further in the next 48 hours.  
Director of regional meteorological centre, Bhubaneswar, Sarat Chandra Sahu said that thunder squalls were likely after March 5 at one or two places in north Odisha and that could bring down the temperature. 

"The temperature is likely to increase for another two days. The day temperature between March and May will either remain at par with last year's temperature or it may be higher," Sahu said.   

Not just Bhubaneswar, almost all the places in the state today witnessed a maximum temperature of more than 35°C. Angul was the hottest place in the state at 38.9°C followed by Talcher at 38.7°C. Similarly, Titilagarh and Malkangiri recorded a maximum temperature of 38°C.

Compared to last year, the city is experiencing an early surge of the mercy. In March last year, the mercury had soared to 42°C but that was during the third week of the month. 

"March is just two days old and the temperature has already crossed 35°C. One can only guess what's in store when summer sets in. It is becoming extremely difficult to venture out in the afternoon. If this trend continues, it will be very difficult for residents to cope with the temperature spurt," said Ashish Das, a resident of Nayapalli. 
But an IMD official said the indication of a hot summer was evident in January, which was the eighth warmest in 116 years.

"The monthly mean temperature averaged across the country during January was also significantly above normal with anomalies of 0.67°, which is the warmest ever since 1901," the IMD said.

Water kiosks

Aware of the coming hot days, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation today held a preparatory meeting to open jalachatras (drinking water kiosks) across the city. Corporation officials said the kiosks would become functional from March 25.  

"The kiosks will be run in public-private partnership mode. The civic body will provide water containers. Drinking water will be delivered at the kiosks through tankers and a nodal officer will be engaged for proper management of the kiosks," said a corporation official. 

A few organisations have also promised to provide lemon water and buttermilk free of cost during summer.

(with inputs from PTI)