Bhubaneswar: The IMD issued a yellow warning forecasting a prolonged spell of heatwave and hot and humid conditions across Odisha till May 14. The alert came in the wake of a steady rise in temperatures across the state, with Sambalpur recording the highest maximum temperature of 39.6°C on Thursday.The high humidity levels likely in coastal districts in the next few days will significantly increase discomfort level even when temperatures remain below the heatwave threshold, IMD sources said.Humidity readings from Bhubaneswar recorded on Thursday showed a relative humidity of 92%, making the air feel warmer and more stifling.“It was very difficult to tolerate the repressing weather conditions since early in the morning. We are not able to complete our morning walk between 6 am and 7 am due to high humidity levels. Air conditioners are on throughout the day,” said Deepa Sahu, a resident of the Unit-II area.According to the IMD’s meteorological centre in Bhubaneswar, a persistent east-west trough stretching from northwest Madhya Pradesh to north Chhattisgarh is contributing to the heat build-up. “The current synoptic condition led to an appreciable rise in temperatures by 2 to 3 degrees at some places in interior Odisha. In contrast, parts of south interior Odisha experienced temperatures 3 to 4 degrees below normal,” said Sanjeev Dwivedi, weather scientist at IMD’s regional centre here.Despite this variation, the overall temperature pattern indicates worsening conditions in the coming days. On Friday, hot and humid weather is expected to affect several coastal and southern districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack and Jajpur. The IMD warned that this oppressive weather could cause discomfort, particularly among vulnerable sections such as the elderly, children and people with chronic illnesses.”From May 10 onward,heatwave conditions are likely to intensify in western and interior districts such as Jharsuguda, Boudh, Balangir and Sambalpur. This trend is expected to continue through May 14, gradually extending to other regions like Sundargarh, Angul, Nayagarh, Keonjhar and Deogarh. Meanwhile, coastal areas will continue to endure high humidity levels, compounding the discomfort,” he added.Authorities have recommended avoiding outdoor exposure during peak hours, wearing light and loose cotton clothing and staying hydrated with sufficient intake of water and traditional drinks such as torani (rice water), lemon water and buttermilk.