Cold Wave Grips Odisha as Minimum Temperatures Plummet
Bhubaneswar: There is an escalation of the ongoing cold wave in Odisha, with at least 11 locations in the state reporting minimum temperatures of 10°C or lower over the past 24 hours. This chilling trend is attributed to the influence of cold winds from the north-northwest, according to the regional center of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar. Thirty places in Odisha registered minimum temperatures below 15°C, accompanied by shallow to dense fog engulfing most regions.
Udayagiri in Kandhamal district emerged as the coldest place in the state, recording a minimum temperature of 6.5°C during the last night. Several other locations reported temperatures below 10°C, including Kirei (7.0°C), Phulbani (8.5°C), Koraput (8.7°C), Keonjhar (8.8°C), Sundargarh (9.0°C), Jharsuguda (9.2°C), Daringbadi (9.5°C), Angul (9.6°C), Rourkela (9.6°C), and Ranitaal (10°C). The minimum temperature in the Similipal Reserve Forest hovered around 1°C-2°C.
Even the Twin Cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar were not spared, experiencing minimum temperatures of 13.5°C and 13.8°C, respectively.
The severe cold gripping various parts of Odisha has disrupted normal life, with shallow to dense fog significantly reducing visibility in several areas. Weather officials predict that these conditions will persist for the next 3-4 days. Additionally, there is a possibility of light rain in some parts of the state on December 21 and 22, influenced by western disturbances.
