Cold wave tightens grip on Odisha, temperatures drop sharply; chilly conditions to persist

A fresh spell of cold weather has intensified across Odisha, with minimum temperatures dropping by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in several parts of the state. The chill has become more pronounced in Bhubaneswar and the Twin City region, where night temperatures have fallen below 15 degrees Celsius.

While Bhubaneswar recorded a minimum temperature of 16°C on Monday, the mercury dipped by nearly 2 degrees on Tuesday, accompanied by light cold winds, increasing the chill factor during early morning hours.

Further Dip in Temperatures Forecast

The Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast a further decline in temperatures over the next four days, with minimum temperatures in some interior parts of the state expected to drop to as low as 7°C. Meteorologists warn that the prevailing conditions could lead to severe to very severe cold across several regions.

According to the forecast, the current cold spell is likely to persist for at least five days.

Several coastal districts recorded a temperature drop of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, while interior pockets such as Sundargarh and G Udayagiri witnessed a sharper fall of nearly 7 degrees. Severe cold conditions were also reported in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on Tuesday morning, along with mild winds.

Fog Alert Issued for Multiple Districts

In addition to the cold wave, foggy conditions are expected to affect large parts of the state. The Meteorological Department has issued a fog warning for Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Khordha, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts.

Between January 7 and January 10, light to moderate fog is likely in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Cuttack, Puri and Khordha districts. Dense fog has been warned for Ganjam and Gajapati, while light to moderate fog is expected in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and surrounding areas.

Light Winds to Increase Chill

Light winds are also expected to blow across the state from the early morning hours till around 10 am, which may further intensify the cold conditions. Authorities have advised people, especially the elderly and children, to take necessary precautions as the cold wave and fog continue to prevail.