Bhubaneswar, May 14: The regional Met centre has offered little hope of respite as the state continues to reel from severe heatwave-like conditions.

It has predicted thunder squall with rain for the coastal belt, while warning that the interior pockets will continue to sizzle at least till May 20.

According to the daily forecast, coastal districts and adjoining areas such as Ganjam, Keonjhar, Kandhamal and Rayagada will experience thunder squall and shower. However, heatwave-like condition will persist in Sambalpur, Balangir and other interior pockets for the next 48 to 72 hours.

"Rain and thundershower will occur as part of the western disturbance, which is affecting the state's weather. It is also contributing to the heatwave-like condition in the state's interior pockets. Such weather will continue till May 20," said Met director Sarat Chandra Sahu.

However, there is some positive news for citizens. The India Meteorological Department today traced the southwest monsoon at Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It has touched the island three days before the usual date of arrival, sources said.

"The southwest monsoon has entered Andaman and Nicobar Islands today and conditions are favourable for further advancement of the monsoon in some more parts of the island in the next 72 hours. However, it will only be possible to predict when monsoon will hit Odisha after it reaches the southern front of Kerala," said Sahu.

The state capital sizzled under intense heat today after it recorded a maximum temperature above 40°C for the third time this summer. The city recorded similar temperatures earlier in April and the meteorological centre recorded a maximum temperature of 40.3°C, while the mercury for neighbouring Cuttack touched 40.4°C.

Balangir, with 45.2°C, recorded the highest temperature in the state, followed by 45°C at Titilagarh today. "This time the summer has not been very harsh. I hope it won't affect the monsoon as this usually happens in the preceding years. It is indeed good news that the monsoon is coming earlier than usual," said Unit III resident Jagannath Behera.