Bhubaneswar, Dec 13: A cold wave continues to sweep across Odisha, with night temperatures plunging sharply across both interior and coastal districts, causing discomfort among residents. Rourkela emerged as one of the coldest places in the state, recording a bone-chilling minimum temperature of 8°C, followed closely by Jharsuguda at 8.2°C.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Keonjhar recorded 10.2°C, Sambalpur 11.4°C, and Hirakud 12.2°C. The capital city Bhubaneswar registered a minimum temperature of 12.6°C, while Cuttack recorded 12.4°C.
Cold wave conditions were also reported in coastal Odisha, with Balasore shivering at 14.2°C, Gopalpur at 14.3°C, Chandbali at 14.5°C, Paradip at 14.9°C, and Puri recording 16.6°C.
The regional weather office attributed the significant drop in temperatures to the influence of a western disturbance. Over the past 24 hours, cold conditions persisted across several interior districts. Phulbani emerged as the coldest place in the plains, recording a minimum temperature of 5.5°C. In the hill region, G. Udayagiri (AMFU) in Kandhamal district recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state at 3.1°C.
Despite the cold nights, Jharsuguda recorded the highest maximum temperature in the plains at 31.0°C. Bhubaneswar registered a maximum temperature of 29.0°C, while Cuttack recorded 26.9°C. The weather remained dry across most parts of the state.
Dense fog was reported at Rourkela, with visibility dropping below 200 metres, while shallow fog was observed at Bhawanipatna, reducing visibility to less than 1,000 metres. The foggy conditions disrupted road traffic and early morning movement in affected areas.
Several interior districts, including Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Bolangir, Nuapada, and Kandhamal, recorded minimum temperatures significantly below normal, indicating the persistence of cold wave conditions.
The IMD has advised people, especially the elderly and children, to take necessary precautions during early morning and late night hours, as cold conditions are likely to persist in isolated pockets of the state.
