Dense fog tightens grip across Odisha amid winter chill, visibility plunges below 50 metres

On the first day of the New Year, large parts of Odisha remained under the grip of dense fog on Thursday morning, even as the intensity of the winter chill showed signs of easing, with visibility dropping to below 50 metres at several locations and disrupting normal transport and daily activities.

According to ground reports, a thick layer of fog enveloped both coastal and northern interior Odisha, significantly affecting road conditions during early morning hours. In many areas, including the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, sources reported that motorists were forced to slow down or halt movement due to extremely poor visibility.

Fog Spreads Across Multiple Districts

Dense fog conditions were reported from a wide swathe of districts, including Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Angul and Deogarh. Coastal pockets also witnessed heavy fog cover, with low-lying areas experiencing prolonged visibility issues well into the morning.

Reports added that visibility in several locations fell below 50 metres, making navigation difficult on highways and rural roads alike. Rail and aviation authorities remained on alert as fog continued to impact visibility near tracks and airports, increasing the risk of delays or rescheduling.

Cold Wave Impact Eases Marginally

While fog intensified across the state, the overall severity of the cold wave showed a slight decline. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that winter conditions are expected to ease further over the next four days, although fog is likely to persist, particularly during the night and early morning hours.

Despite the marginal easing, cold night conditions continued to prevail in the interior and hilly regions. On Wednesday, G Udayagiri recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state at 4.3 degrees Celsius. Phulbani followed with a minimum of 6 degrees Celsius, while Daringbadi recorded 7 degrees Celsius.

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Meteorological data indicated that rural and hilly areas remained significantly colder than urban centres, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 3 degrees Celsius lower. These conditions continued to intensify the impact of cold nights, especially in southern and western Odisha.

The weather department has forecast a possible marginal rise of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in nighttime temperatures after the New Year, subject to changes in wind patterns and atmospheric circulation.