Bhubaneswar: A severe cold wave continues to sweep across Odisha, with the night temperatures plummeting below the 10 degree Celsius mark in at least sixteen cities across the state.
However the Capital City is expected to enjoy a stretch of pleasant, dry weather over the next seven days, characterized by sunny to mainly clear skies. The daytime maximum temperatures will remain steady, generally hovering between 27°C and 29°C.
The minimum temperatures during the night, which define the chill, will range between 14°C and 16°C. While this is cool, it is significantly warmer than the extreme cold experienced in the interior parts of Odisha like G Udayagiri.
The India Meteorological Department forecasts that the biting cold conditions are likely to persist for the next two days, particularly impacting the southern, western, and interior districts.
G Udayagiri in Kandhamal district has recorded the season’s lowest minimum temperature, dipping to a bone-chilling 3.1 degrees Celsius. Semiliguda followed closely, registering 4.6 degrees Celsius, while the popular hill station Daringbadi recorded a low of 6 degrees Celsius. Phulbani, another key interior location, saw the mercury settle at 5.5 degrees Celsius.
Other parts of the state are also experiencing intense chill. Koraput recorded 6.5 degrees Celsius, Chiplima registered 7.8 degrees Celsius, and both Nabarangpur and Rourkela reported minimum temperatures of 8 degrees Celsius. Coastal and other interior areas such as Angul, Jharsuguda, Bhawanipatna, Dhenkanal, Rayagada, Boudh, and Sundargarh also recorded minimum temperatures hovering at or below 10 degrees Celsius.
The prolonged cold spell, accompanied by dense fog in the early morning hours, has significantly affected daily life, especially for farmers and commuters in southern Odisha.
Residents are advised by the IMD to take necessary precautions against the severe cold, particularly during the early morning and late night hours. Despite the harsh weather, certain tourist destinations, like Koraput, are still witnessing a steady influx of visitors.