Bhubaneswar, Jan 8: Bhubaneswar experienced one of its coldest January nights in recorded history as the minimum temperature dropped to 9.4 degrees Celsius, marking the third-lowest January temperature in the city since records began in 1952.

The chilling temperature, recorded on January 8, 2026, equals the minimum registered on January 3, 1952, underlining the severity of the ongoing cold wave gripping Odisha.

Meteorological data show that Bhubaneswar has rarely witnessed such low temperatures in January. The coldest January night on record remains January 5, 1992, when the mercury plunged to 8.6°C, followed by January 17, 2003, which recorded 9°C. The latest dip to 9.4°C places this year among the most extreme winter events the capital city has seen in more than seven decades.

The sharp fall in temperature is part of a broader and intense cold wave affecting the entire state. Several regions of Odisha are experiencing near-freezing conditions. Similipal recorded a minimum temperature of 0°C, while G. Udayagiri and Semiliguda reported 3°C and 4.1°C respectively.

On Wednesday night alone, 23 locations across Odisha registered minimum temperatures below 10°C, with most areas recording temperatures 5 to 8 degrees below normal.

The severe cold has disrupted daily life across both urban and rural areas. Residents are braving bone-chilling winds, while the cold has also affected wildlife, particularly in forested regions where temperatures have dropped sharply.

According to the Meteorological Department, the cold wave is expected to intensify further, with no significant relief likely before January 12. Forecasts indicate that minimum temperatures will remain below 10°C in most parts of the state, and in some pockets, temperatures may fall below 5°C.