Freezing nights persist while fog blankets several districts

Residents across Odisha are facing biting cold conditions this weekend as temperatures plummeted significantly in several interior regions. The regional center of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar has highlighted a sharp drop in night temperatures, with G. Udayagiri emerging as the coldest spot in the state at a freezing 2.5°C.

Cold Wave Sweeps Interior Districts

According to the latest bulletin, cold wave conditions have prevailed in isolated pockets, specifically impacting the districts of Angul, Jharsuguda, and Jagatsinghpur. The chill is palpable across the plains as well, with Phulbani recording a shivering low of 5.5°C. Other areas are not far behind, with Keonjhar recording 9°C and the capital city, Bhubaneswar, registering a minimum temperature of 10.7°C and Cuttack with minimum temperature of 10.2°C.

Fog Warning Issued

Visibility remains a concern for commuters during the early hours. The weather office has predicted shallow to moderate fog at one or two places over the next 24 hours. The districts likely to be affected include: Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal This foggy condition is expected to extend into the week, covering additional districts like Khordha, Puri, and Nayagarh from Day 2 to Day 5.

Relief on the Horizon

While the current chill is severe, meteorologists forecast a shift in the weather pattern soon. The IMD report indicates that while there will be no large change in minimum temperatures (night temperature) for the next 24 hours, a gradual rise is expected thereafter. Residents can look forward to a temperature increase of 2°C to 4°C across the districts of Odisha, bringing some respite from the biting cold.

For now, the department has issued a "Dry Weather" statement for most other districts, with no severe warnings pertinent for Day 2 through Day 7 aside from the lingering fog.