Cold wave to sweep Odisha on New Year’s Day; Yellow Warning for 6 districts

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), on Sunday, predicted that shallow to moderate fog is very likely to occur over one or two places in Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur districts on New Year’s Eve.

The forecast also issued yellow warnings for dense fog, with visibility between 50 and 200 meters, prevailing in Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, Kalahandi, and Kandhamal districts.

Meanwhile, the IMD’s regional centre in Bhubaneswar also predicted that cold wave conditions will return with the onset of the New Year. While no large change in temperature may be witnessed until tonight, a drop of over 2 to 4 degrees Celsius will be felt in the subsequent 2 to 4 days, stated the MeT department.

Minimum temperatures on 1st January will drop across many places in Odisha with Phulbani expected to shiver at 10 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, the districts of Koraput and Dhenkanal will also witness chills at 11 to 12 degrees Celsius respectively.

ALSO READ: Cold wave conditions likely over parts of North India from December 29: IMD

Among major cities, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack are all predicted to reel at around 14 degrees Celsius on New Year’s Day while Angul may drop further to 13 degrees Celsius.

However, Puri is predicted to see temperatures at 16 degrees Celsius while Bhadrak and Balasore will stay at 13 and 15 degrees Celsius, respectively, on the same day.

ALSO READ: IMD’s latest updates on induced cyclonic circulation, anti-cyclone and thunderstorm

The cold wave and fog conditions return after days of continuous unseasonal rainfall. Incidentally, many parts of the state, including the state capital, had witnessed a slight rise in mercury yesterday but are now predicted to again feel the winter chill.